MIES (Switzerland) - Each week, experts are analysing the games. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and 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:  SIG Strasbourg v Tofas Bursa - Fake being fouled

Blue 12 is driving towards the basket when White 11 takes a position in front of him. There is a contact and the referee calls a Technical Foul on White 11 for fake being fouled as the White Team had already received a warning, earlier in the game, for this same action.

Article 33.16 Fake is an action by a player to simulate that he has been fouled or to make theatrical, exaggerated movements in order to create an opinion of being fouled and therefore gaining an advantage.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Blue 12 did not charge against White 11, who just flopped to fake being fouled. The Blue Team will be awarded one free throw, followed by a Blue Team throw-in from the place nearest to where the ball was located when the game was stopped. The shot clock will be reset to 14 seconds because only 6 seconds were displayed on it when the defensive team was charged with the technical foul.

Tough Call 2: Arged BM Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem - Travelling

The Black Team is on offence when the ball touches Black 11 foot and becomes lose. Yellow 2 and Black 32 fight to get the control of the ball.  Yellow 2 touches the ball then stands up to start his dribble. The referee calls a travelling violation.

Art. 25.2.2 It is a violation if the player attempts to stand up while holding the ball.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Yellow 2 stood up without holding the ball. He stood up touching the ball and then held the ball to start a dribble.

Tough Call 3: ERA Nymburk v Igokea - Personal contact

During a rebound situation, White 77 creates a contact to the face of Blue 12. The referee calls a personal foul but become uncertain if this foul should be upgraded to Unsportsmanlike Foul.

Article 37.1.1 An Unsportsmanlike Foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgment of a referee, is:

• Contact with an opponent and not legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
• Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

F3.3 The following game situation may be reviewed during any time of the game:

• Whether a personal, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul or shall be upgraded or downgraded or shall be considered as a technical foul.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. White 77 contact cannot be considered an Unsportsmanlike Foul as it was not an excessive hard contact or a contact not legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the intent and spirit of the rules. It was an illegal contacted created in a normal basketball action. Not all contacts to the face are considered as an Unsportsmanlike Foul.

Tough Call 4: Pinar Karsiyaka v BAXI Manresa - Fake being fouled

Red 33 attempts a 3 point field goal from the corner whilst White 3 jumps to try to block the shot. Red 33 falls to the floor and the referee calls a personal foul to White 3, awarding a valid basket and 1 free throw to Red 33.

Article 33.3 The offensive player shall not cause contact with the defensive player in a legal guarding position by:

• Spreading his legs or arms to cause contact during or immediately after a shot for a field goal.

Article 33.16 Fake is an action by a player to simulate that he has been fouled or to make theatrical, exaggerated movements in order to create an opinion of being fouled and therefore gaining an advantage.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. White 3 never invades the shooter’s cylinder. It is the shooter, Red 33, who creates the contact by spreading his right leg outside his cylinder. However, this illegal contact does not put White 3 in a disadvantage, so it shall not be called as a personal foul. Red 3 then lets himself fall to the floor in order to fake being fouled. The referee shall give a warning, showing twice the ‘raise-the-lower-arm’ signal to Red 33 for faking the foul. When the game is stopped and the ball is dead, the warning shall also be communicated to the Red Team Head Coach and it shall apply to any member of his team for a similar action for the remaining duration of the game.

Tough Call 5: Pinar Karsiyaka v BAXI Manresa - Charge

White 21 receives the ball being guarded by Red 2. He starts a dribble towards the opponents’ basket. There is a contact between White 21 and Blue 19 and the referee calls an offensive foul for charging.

Article 25.1 To start a dribble, the pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released from the hand(s).

Article 33.3 A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when:

• He is facing an opponent, and
• He has both feet on the floor.

Article 33.4 When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:

• The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the floor.
• The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
• Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.

Outcome: First, incorrect decision from the referees. White 21 committed a travelling violation, as he lifted his pivot foot (left foot) before releasing the ball to start his dribble. Regarding the contact situation, correct decision from the referees. Blue 19 had established an initial legal position and the contact occurred on his torso. Offensive foul for charging. The ball will be awarded to the Blue Team for a throw-in from the place closest to where the foul was committed.