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: BK Opava vs JDA Bourgogne Dijon - Personal Foul

Yellow 33 is running on a fast transition and a contact occurs with Red 15. The referees call a personal foul to Red 15.

Article 33.9        Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with
or without the ball.

Article 37.1.1     An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which, in the judgement of a referee is:

• An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player
  starts his/her act of shooting.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The contact created by Red 15 is an illegal contact but does not meet the criteria to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul as his running motion was natural and he didn’t extend his leg to trip his opponent.

Tough Call 2: Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs Galatasaray EKMAS - Blocking Foul

Black 20 receives the ball and drives to the opponents’ basket. He scores a 2-point basket, and the play continues.

Article 33.9        Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with
or without the ball.

Article 33.4        Once the defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position, he/she
may move to guard his/her opponent, but he/she may not extend his/her arms,
shoulders, hips, or legs to prevent the dribbler from passing by him.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. White 61 created an illegal contact against Black 20 when the offensive player had already caught the ball in his hands. A personal foul in the act of shooting should have been called, valid basket and an additional free throw for Black 20 should have been awarded.

Tough Call 3: SIG Strasbourg vs Filou Oostende - Unsportsmanlike Foul

Yellow 17 attempts to shoot when Blue 21 creates a contact. The referee calls a personal foul and immediately upgrades it to an unsportsmanlike foul.

Article 37.1.1     An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which, in the judgement of a referee is:

• Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an

Outcome: Correct decision from the referee. The contact created by Blue 21 met one of the criteria to be considered as an unsportsmanlike foul. Yellow 17 shall attempt 2 free throws with no line-up and the game will be resumed with a Yellow team throw-in from the throw-in line in their frontcourt and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Tough Call 4: Pinar Karsyiaka vs EWE Baskets Oldenburg - Goaltending

Green 30 makes a lay-up and Blue 15 blocks the shot. The referees call a goaltending violation and award 2 points to Green 30.

Article 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.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The ball was on its downward flight to the basket when touched by Blue 15.

Tough Call 5: SIG Strasbourg vs Filou Oostende - Foul in the Act of Shooting

Blue 0 drives to the opponents’ basket and makes a lay-up. Yellow 23 jumps from behind and the referees call a defensive foul to Yellow 23.

Article 33.2        When a player leaves his/her vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs
with an opponent who had already established his/her own vertical position
(cylinder), the player who left his/her vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Yellow 23 left his cylinder and created a contact with Blue 0. 2 free throws shall be awarded to Blue 0.