Saudi Arabia bends strict rules for soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo

MAHMOUD BENNETT: THE COUNTRY OF SAUDI ARABIA IS KNOWN FOR ITS SUPER STRICT LAWS – BUT FOR WORLD CLASS SOCCER STAR CRISTIANO RONALDO, THE RULES SEEM TO BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE

AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD RONALDO JUST SIGNED A DEAL TO JOIN SAUDI ARABIA’S SOCCER CLUB AL-NASSR – AND HAS MOVED TO THE KINGDOM WITH HIS LONG-TIME *GIRLFRIEND* GEORGINA RODRÍGUEZ.

DESPITE THE ULTRA CONSERVATIVE COUNTRY HAVING STRICT LAWS PROHIBITING UNMARRIED COUPLES FROM LIVING TOGETHER WITHOUT A MARRIAGE CONTRACT VARIOUS OUTLETS REPORT THE KINGDOM WILL BEND THOSE LAWS FOR RONALDO AND TURN A BLIND EYE – AT HIS REQUEST.

THAT SPARKED A VARIETY OF REACTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ONE USER WRITING I’D BE ABSOLUTELY WRECKED IF A GUY WENT TO THIS EXTENT TO AVOID MARRYING ME.

OTHER USERS CALLING IT A SLAP IN THE FACE GIVEN THAT SAUDI DOES NOT AFFORD THIS PRIVILEGE TO OTHERS WHO AREN’T AS VALUABLE TO THE COUNTRY.

WHILE THE KINGDOM HAS RECENTLY RELAXED SOME OF ITS STRICTER LAWS FOR TOURISTS – ADULTERY AND COHABITATION ARE STILL TECHNICALLY CONSIDERED HIGH CRIMES – THOUGH IT’S HARD TO ENFORCE.

SAUDI LAWYERS CLAIM THE COUNTRY DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH MATTERS INVOLVING FOREIGNERS UNTIL IT BECOMES A PROBLEM.

RONALDO IS SET TO EARN 75 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR PLAYING FOR THE SAUDIS. HIS CONTRACT RUNS UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2025.