Each week, experts are analysing the games. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase the transparency towards our fans, we publish some of those "tough calls", together with an explanation. 

Please find below last week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: Banvit v AEK - AOS Foul

In the fast break, Yellow 12 is driving towards the basket and White 15 jumps to block the ball. Yellow 12 loses (by himself) the control of the ball in the beginning of the lay-up. The referee calls a foul from a position where it is not possible to see any contact on the body caused by White 15.
There is no contact in the situation and no foul should have been called.

Outcome: Incorrect decision by referees

Tough Call 2: UNET Holon v Juventus - UF in transition

The yellow team is starting a semi-fast transition and, on the centre line, Red 3 holds Yellow 10, who is starting the fast break without the ball.
The referee correctly calls the Unsportsmanlike foul with the criteria (C1) of “No legitimate attempt to play the ball”.

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

Tough Call 3: Stelmet Enea Zielona Gora v Besiktas - AOS landing foul

White 0 attempts a 3-point shoot and defensive player Black 10 tries to block the shot. He jumps laterally and creates an illegal contact on the shooter White 0 at the end of the action. A foul in the act of shooting should be called and 3 free throws awarded to White 0.

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

Tough Call 4: Pinar Karsiyaka v EWE Baskets Oldenburg - Violation out of bounds

White 5 is dribbling towards the basket and makes a pass behind his back. The ball hits White 5’s left foot, what is visible in the replay, causing the ball to go out of bounds. The lead referee can difficulty see what happened, but his partner gave the correct information and the ball was awarded to the blue team for the throw-in.
Because the play took place in the second period, it is not possible to use Instant Replay System to determine who touched the ball last (valid only in the last 2 minutes in the 4th period / extra time).

Outcome: Correct decision by referees. The behaviour of the White Team coach is not acceptable and should be penalised with a Technical Foul.

Tough Call 5: medi Bayreuth v Petrol Olimpija - Time Control

The white team has a full court press at the end of the game, successfully steal the ball and are trailing one point. White 10 shoots a 3-point shot when the game clock indicates 0.5 seconds remaining. When the ball is in the air, the game clock shows 0.0 and a red led light around the board indicates that the time has expired. When the backboard is equipped with lighting around its perimeter, the lighting takes precedence over the game clock signal sound.
After that, White 50 touches the ball causing it to go to the basket. No player shall touch the ball if it still has the possibility to enter the basket, when the game clock signal sounds for the end of the period while the ball is in flight on a shot for a field goal. In this case no basket should be awarded to the White team.

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

Tough Call 6: Dinamo Sassari v UCAM Murcia - UF

Red 0 receives a pass under the basket, defensive player White 22 jumps and lands on Red 0 with a hard contact. Even if White 22 tries to play ball, this excessive hard contact is an Unsportsmanlike Foul (C2: Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent).

Outcome: Correct decision by referees