ISL 2022-23: “Don’t worry about the red, Vafa” - Twitter explodes in support of Chennaiyin FC's Vafa Hakhamaneshi after sending off against East Bengal

Chennaiyin FC came away with a 1-0 win after Iranian centre-back Vafa Hakhamaneshi nodded home from a corner in a cagey ISL 2022-23 encounter against East Bengal at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan earlier today. However, it is what followed the goal that grabbed eyeballs across the country.

After scoring, Vafa pulled his shirt over his head to reveal the words “#Women #Life #Freedom for… 11:11” underneath. The message was, of course, in support of protests back home in Iran that began in reaction to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for wearing an “improper” hijab, considered to be violating the nation’s mandatory hijab law.

The ‘celebration’ itself resulted in Vafa receiving a second yellow card and being sent off, having been cautioned for a foul on Semboi Haokip only ten minutes earlier.

Luckily for Chennaiyin FC though, they would not go on to rue the decision, with the Marina Machans holding on to their slender lead till the very end. It did help Thomas Brdaric’s side that Sarthak Golui of East Bengal also received a second yellow barely minutes after Vafa was given his marching orders.

And while there were a few fans and experts who referred to the move as “silly”, hordes of fans came out in support of the 31-year-old standing up for a cause he believes in. We look at some reactions from fans as they took to social media in support of the Chennaiyin defender.

Jabin Varghese

@VargheseJabin

PREACH
VAFA, you made everyone in your country proud
#AllInForChennaiyin    #EBFCCFC #HeroISL twitter.com/RohanSharma915…

Rohan

@RohanSharma915

Yo Vafa as a fellow Persian I support you brother!! Way to support the women in Iran! BS for you to have been sent off!!! The Message was so important

25

10

Yo Vafa as a fellow Persian I support you brother!! Way to support the women in Iran! BS for you to have been sent off!!! The Message was so important

PREACH 💙❤️
VAFA, you made everyone in your country proud
#AllInForChennaiyin    #EBFCCFC #HeroISL twitter.com/RohanSharma915…

Sayantan Guha

@Kanhaiya_West

Vafa Hakhamaneshi scores against East Bengal and unveils a strong message written in his undershirt.

Women. Life. Football.

Powerful gesture from the Iranian.

#EBFCCFC #ChennaiyinFC #Iran

6

1

Vafa Hakhamaneshi scores against East Bengal and unveils a strong message written in his undershirt.

Women. Life. Football.

Powerful gesture from the Iranian.

#EBFCCFC #ChennaiyinFC #Iran

VickyVelu

@VickyVelu7

Don't worry about the red Vafa , some messages need to be told

118

11

Don't worry about the red Vafa , some messages need to be told 🔥 https://t.co/S7qxgcLLWG

Jeni

@JenishaRani

Lots of respect to Vafa for his show of solidarity towards the Iranian women🏾
Unfortunate to be sent off for the same.

#EBFCCFC

253

30

Lots of respect to Vafa for his show of solidarity towards the Iranian women💙✊🏾
Unfortunate to be sent off for the same.

#EBFCCFC https://t.co/JJHRc4BRRQ

Roshan Karthik

@roshankarthik07

Respect vafa

3

Respect 💯 vafa 💙🔝 https://t.co/F53pc82qTm

Vignesh Kumar

@Vignesh__CV

WTFFFF @IndSuperLeague
Vafa didn't remove his jersey.
Are you too afraid that someone is speaking out for a human rights issue?
#SCEBCFC

154

24

WTFFFF @IndSuperLeague
Vafa didn't remove his jersey.
Are you too afraid that someone is speaking out for a human rights issue?
#SCEBCFC https://t.co/aRtDmEauY1

Deepesh Kumar

@Deepesh38458556

This guy vafa is a different energy
#ISL

This guy vafa is a different energy ❤
#ISL

Sayantan Mukherjee

@Sayantan44

Vafa’s celebration
It was not a red card
#IsupportVafa
@ChennaiyinFC @Supermachans

5

Vafa’s celebration ❤️❤️❤️
It was not a red card
#IsupportVafa
@ChennaiyinFC @Supermachans

Sudarshan

@SrinzzzLFC

Strong message from Vafa. 🏻

5

Strong message from Vafa. ✊🏻🇮🇷 https://t.co/gfCcqCDlMH

Aaditya Narayan

@AadityaN_28

That's a lovely celebration from Vafa.

2

That's a lovely celebration from Vafa.

Chennaiyin FC jump to 5th on the ISL 2022-23 table

The win itself saw Chennaiyin keep their first clean sheet of the season, and in the process, leapfrog ATK Mohun Bagan to move to 5th in the table. While manager Brdaric will be happy with the away win and the clean sheet, he and the team know there’s plenty of work to be done.

Next, they return to base to take on ISL 2020-21 winners Mumbai City FC on Saturday, November 12, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Whether the team are able to build on the momentum from their win remains to be seen, and there’s only one way to find out.

​