Ronaldo and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez get exemptions
Theoretically, Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, could be prosecuted from the moment he moved with his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, 28, to Riyadh.
Reason: It is forbidden for unmarried couples to live together in Saudi Arabia.
– These laws are applied when there is a problem or crime, says a lawyer, according to the German newspaper Bild.
Cristiano Ronaldo signed with the Saudi Al-Nassr team, thus becoming the world’s best-paid athlete with a salary of around SEK 2.2 billion per season at his new club.
He brought his family, four children and girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez to Saudi Arabia.
Strict rules
The idea is that they will live together in the capital, Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia is a country with limited human rights and on paper there are still very strict rules when it comes to relationships between men and women. Among other things, it is forbidden to live together if you are not married.
But the country appears to be looking the other way when it comes to its new superstar, writes German Bild.
– Although the Kingdom’s laws still prohibit cohabitation without a prenuptial agreement, the authorities have recently begun to turn a blind eye and not prosecute anyone. These laws are applied when there is a problem or crime. The authorities do not lie in this case.
– Given the attention Ronaldo gives to Saudi Arabia, they will certainly make an exception without much fuss, a lawyer tells Bild.
Couple since 2017
Ronaldo and Rodriguez have been a couple since 2017.
Al-Nasr ranks second in the Saudi Professional League after ten matches. The club is owned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also owns English Premier League club Newcastle.