Cristiano Ronaldo has been excluded from Al-Nassr's squad for their AFC Champions League round of 16 match against Esteghlal Tehran in Iran, with conflicting explanations emerging about the reason for his absence.

Russian media outlet WellNews reported on March 3 that the Portuguese star faces a potential punishment of 99 lashes for "adultery" related to a 2023 incident when he hugged and kissed the forehead of an Iranian disabled artist during a previous visit to Tehran.

"We could not risk the safety and reputation of the player," an Al-Nassr representative told the press regarding the decision.

The incident occurred in September 2023 when Al-Nassr played against Tehran club Persepolis. During that visit, Ronaldo met with Fateme Hammami Nasrabadi, an artist with disabilities who creates paintings with her feet. Ronaldo gave her a shirt, then hugged and kissed her forehead as a sign of respect.

Under Iran's strict Islamic laws, such a gesture between unmarried individuals can be considered adultery, which carries a punishment of up to 99 lashes.

However, Iranian sports media presents a different explanation. According to Varzesh3, the real reason behind Ronaldo's absence is concern over US sanctions against Iran and their potential impact on his business interests in the United States.

The Iranian report claims letters from Al-Nassr to Esteghlal and from the Asian Football Confederation to Iran's Football Federation show the issue is solely related to Trump-era sanctions affecting Ronaldo's business interests.

"This trip would put Ronaldo's business at risk," his security team explicitly stated in communications with the AFC, according to the report, with no mention of legal concerns related to his previous visit.

Ronaldo's team reportedly proposed holding the match in Dubai or Doha, offering to cover all expenses and additional compensation if Esteghlal would agree to play in a neutral country.

The AFC responded that hosting rights belong to Esteghlal and would not be revoked, stating that playing in a neutral country would only be possible with the Iranian club's agreement. Esteghlal rejected the proposal, resulting in the match proceeding at Azadi Stadium without the Portuguese superstar.

"Cristiano is a global star, and such incidents show how cultural differences can affect sport," noted football expert Ali Rezai in an interview with a Middle Eastern publication.

At point of publication the ongoing match in Tehran between the two teams is 0-0.