Cristiano Ronaldo at Risk? Al Nassr Requests Neutral Venue for AFC Champions League Match.
Cristiano Ronaldo is putting on a show in Saudi Arabia this season, scoring 25 goals in 30 appearances. However, he now faces a potential severe punishment in Iran, where he is set to play a match in the coming days.
According to Corriere della Sera, Al Nassr has requested that their AFC Champions League match against Esteghlal be played on neutral ground for security reasons, citing Ronaldo’s “bad experience” in Tehran in 2023.
Back then, Al Nassr faced Persepolis, and Cristiano Ronaldo “crossed the line” by kissing the forehead of Fatemeh Hammami Nasrabadi, a disabled Iranian artist. While intended as a gesture of support, under Iranian law, such an action could be interpreted as adultery, an offense punishable by 100 lashes, as reported by the Italian press.
Despite Al Nassr’s concerns, Iranian football chief Mehdi Tadsch and Esteghlal have rejected the request for a neutral venue, stating that security measures have been put in place to ensure a safe stay for Ronaldo and his team in Tehran. It remains to be seen whether the Saudi club will risk traveling to Iran under these circumstances.
