During his trip to face Persepolis in the first match of the Asian Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo could have gotten into trouble for a friendly gesture. An Iranian artist, Fatemeh Hamami, who suffers from an 85% physical disability, gave two drawings painted with her feet to the Portuguese player as a token of gratitude. In response, Ronaldo hugged her and kissed her on the forehead, a gesture normalized in the West but considered inappropriate under the Iranian penal code.
This gesture of affection can be equated with adultery under Iranian law, since Ronaldo and Hamami are not married. The Koran imposes the punishment of 100 lashes for this type of action, although the sentence could be annulled by the judge if he considers that the acts are not punishable or if those involved show repentance.
Fatemeh Hamami, despite her physical challenges, is a world-renowned painter and creates realistic portraits using her feet. In addition to portraying Ronaldo, she has drawn other famous players such as Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. The Spanish League also sent her a Real Madrid shirt, her favorite club.
Although it was initially reported that Ronaldo would face punishment in Iran, the Iranian embassy in Spain has denied these rumors, praising the sincere and humane meeting between Ronaldo and Hamami. The gesture has sparked controversy and highlighted cultural differences in norms of affection in different parts of the world.