Red Star Belgrade Criticized After Champions League Loss to Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a significant victory on August 11, 2026, by defeating Red Star Belgrade 2-0 away, advancing 3-0 on aggregate to the Champions League playoff round. The match featured two Serbian players familiar to Israeli fans, Mohammed Abu Fani and Derek Lokasen, both of whom faced harsh criticism in Serbian media following the defeat.

Derek Lokasen was described as appearing amateurish, with reports blaming him directly for both goals conceded. Although he started the game well, he made a critical error in the 60th minute and failed to mark Jovan Isti, who scored the second goal. The local press expressed disappointment, stating this was not the performance expected from him.

Mohammed Abu Fani entered the match at halftime, bringing needed creativity and generating chances for Red Star. However, his impact was overshadowed by a red card he received, which intensified the team's collapse and chaos on the field. Serbian outlets noted that despite his positive contributions, Abu Fani would likely remember August 11 unfavorably due to the sending off.

This result marks a notable achievement for Hapoel Be'er Sheva as they progress further in the Champions League qualifiers, while Red Star faces scrutiny over their players' performances and defensive lapses.