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@VargheseJabinPREACH VAFA, you made everyone in your country proud#AllInForChennaiyin #EBFCCFC #HeroISL twitter.com/RohanSharma915…Rohan@RohanSharma915Yo 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 important2510Yo 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 importantPREACH 💙❤️VAFA, you made everyone in your country proud#AllInForChennaiyin #EBFCCFC #HeroISL twitter.com/RohanSharma915…Sayantan Guha@Kanhaiya_WestVafa Hakhamaneshi scores against East Bengal and unveils a strong message written in his undershirt.Women. Life. Football.Powerful gesture from the Iranian. #EBFCCFC #ChennaiyinFC #Iran61Vafa Hakhamaneshi scores against East Bengal and unveils a strong message written in his undershirt.Women. Life. Football.Powerful gesture from the Iranian. #EBFCCFC #ChennaiyinFC #IranVickyVelu@VickyVelu7Don't worry about the red Vafa , some messages need to be told 11811Don't worry about the red Vafa , some messages need to be told 🔥 https://t.co/S7qxgcLLWGJeni@JenishaRaniLots of respect to Vafa for his show of solidarity towards the Iranian women🏾Unfortunate to be sent off for the same.#EBFCCFC25330Lots 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/JJHRc4BRRQRoshan Karthik@roshankarthik07Respect vafa 3Respect 💯 vafa 💙🔝 https://t.co/F53pc82qTmVignesh Kumar@Vignesh__CVWTFFFF @IndSuperLeagueVafa didn't remove his jersey.Are you too afraid that someone is speaking out for a human rights issue?#SCEBCFC15424WTFFFF @IndSuperLeagueVafa didn't remove his jersey.Are you too afraid that someone is speaking out for a human rights issue?#SCEBCFC https://t.co/aRtDmEauY1Deepesh Kumar@Deepesh38458556This guy vafa is a different energy #ISLThis guy vafa is a different energy ❤#ISLSayantan Mukherjee@Sayantan44Vafa’s celebration It was not a red card #IsupportVafa @ChennaiyinFC @Supermachans5Vafa’s celebration ❤️❤️❤️It was not a red card #IsupportVafa @ChennaiyinFC @SupermachansSudarshan@SrinzzzLFCStrong message from Vafa. 🏻5Strong message from Vafa. ✊🏻🇮🇷 https://t.co/gfCcqCDlMHAaditya Narayan@AadityaN_28That's a lovely celebration from Vafa.2That's a lovely celebration from Vafa.Chennaiyin FC jump to 5th on the ISL 2022-23 tableThe 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.