Cristiano Ronaldo could face a severe beating the next time he visits Iran following reports he faces ’99 lashes for adultery’ due to a photo of him hugging a female painter.

Iranian publication Mundo Deportivo has claimed that a large number of lawyers in the country have filed a complaint against Portugal’s captain for breach of adultery laws for “touching” another woman while in a relationship.

The incident is said to stem from a picture that was taken during his visit with his club, Al Nassr, in September, the Daily Mail reports.

Ronaldo, who is in a relationship with Georgina Rodriguez, travelled to Tehran, the capital of Iran, with Al-Nassr to face Persepolis in the group stage of the Asian Champions League and was presented with several gifts, including paintings from disabled artiste Fatima Hamimi.

The former Real Madrid star hugged the severely paralysed Hamimi, who is a big fan of the player, after receiving paintings specially made for him.

Ronaldo also gave her a signed shirt before posing for photographs. The seemingly innocuous gesture was, however, enough to attract the ire of Iranian lawyers, who have petitioned for punishment against the footballer, as per The Daily Mail.

It’s understood that in Iranian law, touching a married woman is equivalent to adultery.

Hamimi is said to be ’85 per cent paralysed.’

Marca has, however, reported that the sentence could be forgiven by a judge if ‘the acts are not punishable or Ronaldo shows remorse’.

Ronaldo is currently with the Portugal national team, which is set to face Serbia in European Championships qualifying on Wednesday.