Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Heavy Price After Red Cards in Champions League Exit

Hapoel Be'er Sheva came within 20 seconds of a historic qualification to the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday but suffered a crushing 5-2 defeat to Sabah FK, resulting in a 6-4 aggregate loss and elimination from the competition. Despite the setback, the team will continue in the UEFA Europa League, but the disciplinary consequences from this match will carry over. Both Jibril Diop and Eliel Peretz received red cards late in the game, which will impact their availability in upcoming European fixtures. Diop was sent off in the 100th minute after receiving a second yellow card for a borderline foul, following an earlier caution for time-wasting. Similarly, Peretz was shown a second yellow card shortly after Be'er Sheva conceded their fifth goal. While Diop has seen limited playing time this season, Peretz is a key player in coach Ran Kozuch's lineup, making his suspension a significant blow to the team moving forward.