MIES (Switzerland) - Each week, experts and referees observers 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 last week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: VEF Riga v JDA Dijon - Basketball interference

Black 4 attempts a field goal. White 20 taps the ball away from the basket and the referee calls a basketball interference and awards 2 points to Black 4.

Article 31.2.4 Interference occurs when:

• A defensive player touches the ball or the basket while the ball is within the basket, thus preventing the ball from passing through the basket.

Article 16.1.2 The ball is considered to be within the basket when the slightest part of the ball is within the basket and below the level of the ring.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The ball had some part inside the basket and below the level of the ring, so it is considered to be within the basket. 2 points shall be awarded to Black 4.

Tough Call 2: Darussafaka v Hereda San Pablo Burgos - Travelling and screening

Green 1 receives the ball and stops, he then starts a dribble being guarded by Grey 3. Green 35 attempts to screen Grey 3 and the referee calls a team control foul.

Article 25.2.1 A player who catches the ball while he is progressing may take two steps when coming to a stop.

• The first step occurs when one foot or both feet touch the floor after gaining control of the ball.
• The second step occurs after the first step when the other foot touches the floor or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.

Article 25.2.1 A player who catches the ball while standing with both feet on the floor

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

Article 33.7 Legal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:

• Was stationary inside his cylinder when contact occurred.
• Had both feet on the floor when contact occurred.

      Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:

• Was moving when contact occurred.

Outcome: The first part of the play situation, an incorrect decision from the referee. Green 1 committed a travelling violation because he moved his pivot foot before releasing the ball to start the dribble. The second part of the play situation, correct decision from the referee. Green 35 was moving with his arms outside of his cylinder and created an illegal contact when trying to set the screen..

Tough Call 3: Filou Oostende v Igokea m:tel - Fake being fouled

Blue 24 attempts a 3-point field goal while Yellow 6 tries to block the shot. After the ball is released but with Blue 24 still airborne, the referee calls a personal foul to Yellow 6 and awards 3 free throws to Blue 24.

Article 33.16 Fake is any 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. Yellow 6 did not create any illegal personal contact with the shooter. It was the shooter who jumped backward in order to simulate that he had been fouled. This is an excessive fake, a technical foul should have been called to Blue 24 and the Yellow Team should have attempted one free throw. The game should have been resumed with an alternating possession throw-in as neither team had the control of the ball when the technical foul should have been called.

Tough Call 4: VEF Riga v JDA Dijon - IRS

Near the end of the 3^rd quarter, Black 1 attempts a 3-point field goal when the signal for the end of the quarter sounds. The ball enters the basket, and the referees award the field goal. After the IRS review, the referees cancel the basket.

Article 9.8 A quarter, overtime or game shall end when the game clock signal sounds for the end of the quarter or overtime. When the backboard is equipped with red lighting around its permitter, the lighting takes precedence over the game clock signal sound.

F 3.1 The following game situations may be reviewed at the end of a quarter or overtime:

• Whether a shot for a successful field goal was released before the game clock signal sounded for the end of the quarter or overtime.

F 2.2 The initial decision of the referees can be corrected only if the IRS review provides the referees with clear and conclusive visual evidence for the correction.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The IRS provided the referees with clear and conclusive visual evidence that the ball was still in contact with the shooter’s hand when the backboard red lighting flashed.

Tough Call 5: Lenovo Tenerife v Pinar Karsiyaka - IRS for a potential Act of violence

Yellow 9 passes the ball to his teammate Yellow 15, who then hands-off the ball back to Yellow 9. Afterwards, the referees stop the game when they see Yellow 15 on the floor.

F-4.17 In situations where an act of violence occurs which is not called immediately, referees are authorised to stop the game at any time to review for any act of violence or potential act of violence. The referees must identify the need for the IRS review and the review must take place the first time the referees have stopped the game.

If the IRS review provides evidence that an act of violence has occurred, the referees shall call the infraction and penalise all already called infractions including the act of violence in the order in which the infractions occurred.

An act of violence is an act of force that causes or is intended to cause harm, or an act that results or could result in a risk of injury. An act that does not meet the criteria of a disqualifying foul, an unsportsmanlike foul for an excessive, hard contact or a technical foul for threatened violence is not an act of violence.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees, in accordance with the new Official Interpretation. The referees are authorised to use the IRS review to identify a potential act of violence. They stopped the game immediately without putting either team at a disadvantage. After the IRS review, they decided that the contact didn’t meet the criteria to be an act of violence. The game shall be resumed with a Yellow team throw-in from the place nearest to where the game was stopped and the Yellow team shall have the remaining time (14 seconds) on the shot clock (OBRI F-4.18).