Red Star Ousted by Hapoel, Stankovic Seeks Exit

Boos were already rolling down from the stands at halftime, with the scoreboard at Rajko Mitic Stadium still reading 0:0 between Red Star and Hapoel Beer Sheva. The Serbian champion spent the first 45 minutes without a single shot on target, its attack reduced to the right flank and a handful of runs from Bukari. That was enough for the crowd at the country’s biggest stadium to start whistling at its own team.

Then, early in the second half, Dejan Stankovic was shown a red card. He did not walk quietly toward the tunnel. He turned to face the crowd, gestured and argued with fans, and chants of “board out” rang from the west stand that night.

The goal that broke the tie came in the 61st minute, scored by Zlatanovic. Eighteen minutes later Ist put the result beyond doubt, making it 2:0 at Rajko Mitic Stadium. Combined with the 1:0 defeat in the first leg, played in Szombathely, Hungary, where the Israeli club hosted on neutral ground, the aggregate score finished 3:0. Red Star failed to score across the full 180 minutes.

What the numbers said about the tie

The match was refereed by Glen Niberg of Sweden. Stankovic started with Mateus in goal, a back line of Seol, Lukasen, Erakovic and Tiknizjan, a midfield of Elsnik, Krunic, Bukari and Kostov, and Duarte and Enem up front. Abu Fani and Arnautovic came on at halftime, followed later by Ivanic, Cam and Katai. For the visitors, Marsijano, Amador, Rotman, Vitor, Mizrahi, Jehosuha, Ventura, Perec, Ahmad, Ist and Zlatanovic all featured.

Five substitutions, two halves, not a single goal for the home side. That is the entire statistical summary of the tie from Red Star’s perspective, and it explains why Ljutice Bogdana Street was far quieter last night than anyone expected.

Why didn’t Red Star face reporters?

Because a coach who has been sent off is barred under UEFA rules from appearing before the media after the match. The club’s press office told reporters briefly that there would be no press conference, and there was no statement in the mixed zone either. Assistant coach Nenad Sakic had been expected to step in front of the cameras, but even that did not happen.

Sakic was the only member of the coaching staff to say anything to reporters at the stadium: “We’re sorry for the fans. Emotions are still running high and I’d rather not get into it right now.”

Close to midnight, a message reached the media from the club. “Dear colleagues, I am informing you that tomorrow at 12 pm the club will hold an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors,” the notice from FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) read. In the meantime it emerged that Stankovic said goodbye to the players in the locker room immediately after the final whistle and told club officials he wants to leave.

A fourth failed qualifying campaign

This marks the fourth time Stankovic has failed to steer Red Star into the Champions League from the bench:

• 2020, Omonia, a single match in Cyprus because of the pandemic, lost on penalties
• 2021, Sheriff, 1:1 in Belgrade and 0:1 in Tiraspol
• 2022, Maccabi Haifa, 2:3 away and 2:2 at home, including an own goal in the 90th minute
• 2026, Hapoel Beer Sheva, 0:1 and 0:2

Ahead of the second leg, Stankovic had publicly insisted that every player was fit and that there was nothing more to add. After the 2:0 defeat, that argument disappeared along with the season in Europe’s top club competition.

Red Star’s European campaign continues in the Europa League playoff round, against Viktoria Plzen. The first leg is August 20 in Belgrade, the return leg August 27 in the Czech Republic. If the club falls there too, the red and whites move into the Conference League group stage, a competition they have never played before.

Nine days from now, then, the same stands and the same bench, only without a single excuse left. Whoever holds the job after the noon meeting inherits a team that failed to produce a serious shot on goal across two matches against the Israeli champion. That is not fixed with one signature.