MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all BCL games each week. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase transparency towards our fans, we publish some of those 'tough calls', together with an explanation.

Tough Call 1: Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Hapoel Atsmon Holon - Blocking Foul

White 1 receives the ball and drives to the basket. When making the lay-up a contact occurs with Red 24. The referees call a blocking foul to Red 24.

Art. 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 court.
• The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
• When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the court for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
• 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: Correct decision from the referee. Red 24 was still moving when the contact occurred, and the contact did not occur on his torso. This is a blocking foul. The basket is valid and White 1 shall attempt one free throw.

Tough Call 2: Unicaja v Galatasaray Nef - Personal foul and Interference

Green 8 drives to the basket and makes a lay-up. The shot is missed and while two opponents are fighting for the ball, the referee calls an interference violation to White 6 and award 2 points to the Green team. The White team's head coach requests a Head Coach Challenge. After the review, the referees change the initial decision.

Art. 31.2.4 Interference occurs when:
• After a shot for a goal, or the last free throw, a player touches the basket or the backboard while the ball is in contact with the ring.
• After a free throw, followed by any additional free throw(s), a player touches the ball, the basket or the backboard while the ball still has the possibility to enter the basket.
• A player reaches through the basket from below and touches the ball.
• 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.
• A player causes the basket to vibrate or grasps the basket in such a way that, in the judgement of a referee, the ball has been prevented from entering the basket or has been caused to enter the basket.
• A player grasps the basket and plays the ball

F.4.2 For the head coach’s challenge the following procedure shall apply:
• The head coach shall be granted only one head coach’s challenge in a game, regardless of whether the challenge is successful or not.
• Only the game situations as in the Appendix F.3 may be challenged.
• The time restrictions within Appendix F.3 do not apply. The head coach’s challenge may be requested at any time in the game. 

Outcome: The first decision of the referees was incorrect, as there was a pushing foul on Green 8 on his attempt for the lay-up. Then, there was another incorrect decision from the referees, as there was no violation committed by any player. An interference violation called by the referees is one of the situations subject to a Head Coach Challenge.

After the review, the decision was changed, this was a correct decision: no violation and the ball was awarded to the White team for a throw-in as they had or were about to have a clear control of the ball when the referee’s whistle sounded.

Tough Call 3: Darussafaka Lassa v UCAM Murcia - Special situations, unsportsmanlike foul and disqualifying foul

Black 5 drives to the basket and a contact occurs. The referee calls a foul in the act of shooting to White 7. The ball enters the basket, so 2 points are awarded to Black 5, who shall also attempt 1 additional free throw.

During the dead ball period, there is a physical interaction between Black 5 and White 11. The referees decide to use the IRS to check any possible act of violence. After the review, they call an unsportsmanlike foul to White 11 and a disqualifying foul to Black 5.

Art. 37.1.1 An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which, in the judgement 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.

Art. 38.1.1  A disqualifying foul is any flagrant unsportsmanlike action by players, substitutes, head coaches, assistant coaches, excluded players and accompanying delegation members.

Art. 42.1 In the same game clock stopped period which follows an infraction, special situations may arise when additional infraction(s) are or have been committed.

Art. 42.2.3  All equal penalties on the teams and all double foul penalties shall be cancelled in the order in which they were committed. Once all foul penalties have been entered on the scoresheet and cancelled, they are considered as never having occurred.

Art. 42.2.7  All remaining penalties shall be administered in the order in which they were committed.

Art. 19.3.8  If the free-throw shooter must be substituted because he:
• Is injured, or
• Has committed 5 fouls, or
• Has been disqualified,
the free throw(s) must be attempted by his/her substitute who may not be substituted again until after he/she has played in the next game clock running period.

Outcome: Correct decisions from the referees. The contact created by White 11 in the dead ball situation can be considered an unsportsmanlike foul. The reaction by Black 5, hitting his opponent’s head, meets the criteria to be considered a disqualifying foul. The penalty for both White 11’s unsportsmanlike foul and Black 5’s disqualifying foul is 2 free throws and possession of the ball. Therefore, both equal penalties against both teams cancel each other, the game is resumed with the penalty for the first foul, that is, 1 free throw. As Black 5 has been disqualified, his substitute will also attempt the free throw and the game will continue as after any last free throw.

Tough Call 4:  Galatasaray Nef v Unicaja - Goaltending (4th quarter, 2:54 mark)

White 8 makes a lay-up and Red 6 tries to block the shot. The referees call a goaltending violation and award 2 points to White 8. The Red team Head Coach requests a Head Coach Challenge. After the review, the referees confirm the initial decision.

Art. 31.2.1  Goaltending occurs during a shot for a 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.

F.4.2  For the head coach’s challenge the following procedure shall apply:
• The head coach shall be granted only one head coach’s challenge in a game, regardless of whether the challenge is successful or not.
• Only the game situations as in the Appendix F.3 may be challenged.
• The time restrictions within Appendix F.3 do not apply. The head coach’s challenge may be requested at any time in the game.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referee. The ball is already on its downward flight to the basket so Red 6 touching of the ball is a goaltending violation. The basket counts and the game shall be resumed with a Red team throw-in from any place behind their baseline, except directly behind the backboard.