MIES (Switzerland) - 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 this week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: Neptunas Klaipeda v Besiktas Sompo Sigorta - Foul in the Act of Shooting

Close to the end of the second quarter, Black 25 starts a drive to the basket and lays the ball up. After the ball has been released, defender White 23 blocks the shot when the ball is near the backboard. The referee calls a personal foul to White 31 for illegal use of hands on the drive.

According to the Official Basketball Rules, article 31 .2.1,  a goaltending occurs during a shot for a field goal when a player touches the ball while it is completely above the level of the ring and:

• It is on its downward flight to the basket, or
• After it has touched the backboard.

The referees meet to share the information they have about the play from their respective positions on the court. This is NOT a situation that can be reviewed with the IRS, for two reasons:

• No violation was called.
• This situation didn’t occur during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. There is no goaltending violation: the ball was still on its upward flight and had not yet touched the backboard. Black 25 will be awarded two free throws.

Tough Call 2: UNET Holon v Dinamo Sassari - UF

Near to the end of the game, Green 1 receives the ball and starts a dribble. Yellow 8 comes to guard him and creates an illegal contact with his right arm on the right arm and body of the dribbler. The referee calls a personal foul to Yellow 8. The referees are not sure if this contact meets any of the criteria to be called as an unsportsmanlike foul.

According to the article 46.12, the crew chief is authorised to use the Instant Replay System during any time of the game to decide whether a personal, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul or shall be upgraded or downgraded.

After the review, the referees decide that the contact met the criteria for this foul to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul (article 37.1.1 C1, not a legitimate effort to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules).

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Green 1 will be awarded two free throws and then the ball shall be awarded to the Green team for a throw in at the throw in line in their frontcourt. As the game clock shows 10.2 seconds to the end of the quarter, the shot clock will be switched off.

Tough Call 3: Happy Casa Brindisi v Falco Szombathely - UF

In a rebound situation whilst trying to gain control of the ball, Black 31 extends his arm outside his cylinder and hits Blue 4 on his face. The referee calls a personal foul to Black 31. The referees are not sure if this contact meets any of the criteria to be called as unsportsmanlike foul.

According to the article 46.12, the crew chief is authorised to use the Instant Replay System during any time of the game to decide whether a personal, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul or shall be upgraded or downgraded.

After the review, the referees decide that the contact met criteria for this foul to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul (article 37.1.1 C2, excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent).

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Blue 4 will be awarded two free throws and then the ball shall be awarded to the Blue team for a throw in at the throw in line in their frontcourt with 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Tough Call 4: UNET Holon v Dinamo Sassari - Technical Foul

Green 55 dribbles at his opponent’s basket with Yellow 1 chasing him down. When Green 55 starts the lay-up motion, Yellow 1 continues running forward and blocks the ball so the lay-up is unsuccessful.  Yellow 8 gains control of the ball and starts to dribble. The Head Coach of the Green team enters the court to show his disagreement with the decision of the referees. The Centre referee gives the coach a technical foul.

According to the article 36.2.2, a technical foul by any person permitted to sit on the team bench is a foul for disrespectfully communicating with the officials.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Yellow team will be awarded one free throw. Afterwards, the ball shall be awarded to Yellow team for a throw in from the place nearest where the ball was located when the technical foul was called, and the shot clock shall display 24 seconds (article 50.3 – pt. 3).

Tough Call 5: SIG Strasbourg v Lietkabelis - Guessing

White team starts a fast break. White 4 receives the ball and starts his motion to lay the ball up. Blue 32 tries to reach for the ball with his right hand. The Centre referee calls a personal foul to Blue 32 for illegal use of hands and awards two free throws to White 4.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Blue 32 did not create any contact with his opponent. Centre referee could not see if there was any contact. This is called a fantasy call; the situation where a referee calls a personal foul and there has been no contact on the play. The referee didn’t see the contact but guessed that contact had happened.