Red Star Belgrade Faces Backlash and Coach Resignation After Europa League Exit to Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Red Star Belgrade suffered a heavy blow after being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League qualifiers by Israeli club Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The Serbian champions now must compete in the Europa League playoff round against Czech side Viktoria Plzen, aiming to secure a spot in Europe's secondary club competition. The local media described the elimination as a "disaster" and "complete destruction," with headlines stating that Red Star "embarrassed itself" and that the Champions League was "not for Red Star," highlighting the painful reality imposed by Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

Following the two losses, Red Star's coach, Dejan Stanković, resigned. He had been sent off during the match while his team was trailing 1-0 and reportedly clashed with fans on his way to the locker room. Stanković informed the players of his decision after the game, fulfilling his promise to step down if the team failed to qualify for the Champions League.

The players also faced harsh criticism from the fans. After the match, when the team approached the stands to thank supporters, a spectator descended onto the pitch and instructed Mirko Ivanić and his teammates to return to the locker room. The players initially looked at him before leaving the field. Serbian reports noted that the fans' disappointment was profound, with boos heard from both the eastern and western stands during halftime and calls for the club's management to step down. Expectations had been high for Red Star this summer, making the defeat and fan reaction even more severe.