Iran denies viral rumor that Ronaldo faced ’99 lashes’ for hugging an Iranian woman

CLAIM: Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo sentenced to 99 lashes in Iran for hugging a woman.

AP’s assessment: Wrong. Iran, through its embassy in Spain, be rejected The company has not issued “any court rulings against Iranian international athletes,” the statement said.

Facts: Social media users claim Ronaldo, who made his debut this year with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, was sentenced to corporal punishment in Iran for hugging a female artist.

“Cristiano #Ronaldo may face ’99 lashes for adultery’ next time he visits #Iran for taking a photo with a painter,” read the caption of a popular Instagram post.

The post includes Photos of Ronaldo hugging fatemehami, an iranian artist Holding a paintbrush with his feet, he painted portraits of football stars and others.

but in the post Last week, the Iranian Embassy in Spain, responding to the accusations on X (formerly known as Twitter), denied claims that the country’s judicial system had issued such a ruling.

“We strongly deny the court’s ruling against any international athlete from Iran,” the post read.

The embassy noted that Ronaldo Traveling to Iran in September. 18 and 19 Play football and be well received.Ronaldo and Hamami video Published Twenty on the painter’s Instagram account.

The Associated Press reached out to Iran’s Foreign Ministry for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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