Iranian footballer Alireza Jahanbakhsh won hearts with his thoughtful gesture on field during the Europa Conference League play-off on Thursday. Dutch football club Feyenoord were taking on Swedish side Elfsborg when Elfsborg defender Simon Strand collided with the pitch-side camera cart, knocking it down. Jahanbakhsh first chided the player for this before rushing to help the camerawoman. He checked if she was doing fine and then helped her get the set-up back up on the cart. Not just Jahanbakhsh, his teammate Marcus Holmgren Pedersen also reached out to the camerawoman to confirm that she was okay. 

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The video of this has since gone viral on social media with people praising the footballer for his response and calling it a “classy act.” Some also criticised Strand for not helping the camerawoman. 

“Alireza Jahanbakhsh is a real, real thing, So classy,” one person commented.

“This is the sportsmenship outside the pitch …hats off to him,” wrote another person. 

“The guys are good spirited fellows, even the ref. The guy who knocked her down didn’t even look back,” another person commented. 

Watch the video here:

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The 28-year-old footballer represented Iran at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. He previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League before being signed for Feyenoord Rotterdam earlier this summer.

“I can’t wait to get back on the field. During my time at AZ, Arne Slot was one of the people who helped me to become a better player. So, when he asked if I wanted to come to Feyenoord, I told him I would do everything I could to make the transfer happen. I had no doubts,” Jahanbakhsh had said. 

During Thursday’s game against Elfsborg, he scored a 30th minute goal that helped set up a thumping 5-0 win for his side.