Al-Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, was left out of the squad that faced Esteghlal, at risk of potentially infringing Iranian law.
The Saudi Arabian giants traveled away to Tehran, and drew 0-0 in the first leg of the Asian Champions League Round of 16, without the Portuguese icon.
Meanwhile, it was as a result of an incident with an Iranian artist in 2023.
Ronaldo, who was on a trip with Al-Nassr to face Persopolis, met with popular Iranian artist, Fatemeh Hamami Nasrabadi.
Hamami, who is specially abled, uses her feet to paint footballers and has also painted several artworks of the Portuguese, as she was a big fan.
Meanwhile, during the meeting, Ronaldo was seen hugging and kissing her head, which out of wedlock can be considered adultery in Iran. The punishment to fit the crime in Iran is 99 lashes with a whip.
However, Ronaldo was excused from the first leg, at risk of suffering such a fate. He will have his chance to make his mark in the return leg next Monday, when Esteghlal head to Riyadh.
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