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 last week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: Pinar Karsiyaka v UCAM Murcia - Unsportsmanlike Foul

Red team is setting up a pick & roll play in the middle of the front court. In the end of the pick & roll play, Red 16, after setting up the pick, starts to roll towards to basket. Defensive player White 21 wants to slow down the roll and grabs Red 16’s shirt clearly with the right hand and firmly holds it. This is not a legitimate attempt to play ball (C1) and therefore an Unsportsmanlike Foul must be called.

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

Tough Call 2: MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg v medi Bayreuth - Unsportsmanlike Foul

Yellow team successfully steal the ball in the transition, and Yellow 3 drives to the basket at the end of the fast break. Defensive player Black 1 is late and creates an illegal contact by his right leg. The action by Black 11 is an excessive and hard contact (C2), regardless if he was playing the ball or not, and it is also a dangerous play. Therefore an Unsportsmanlike Foul should be called on Black 11 .

Outcome: Incorrect decision by referees

Tough Call 3: Banvit v AS Monaco - Unsportsmanlike Foul

White team is in transition and defensive player Red 2 creates a clear illegal contact in the back court, stopping the transition. The action by Red 2 is an unnecessary contact (C3) and also not a legitimate attempt to play the ball (C1) and an Unsportsmanlike Foul should be called.

Outcome: Incorrect decision by referees

Tough Call 4: Pinar Karsiyaka v UCAM Murcia - Back court violation

Red 12 is close to the mid court line, in his front court, and holding the ball. Due to the press defense, Red 12 is stepping on the mid court line with his right foot (clearly visible on the replay), and a returned back court violation should be called. A team in control of a live ball in the front court has caused the ball to be illegally returned to their back court if a player of that team is the last to touch the ball in his front court, and the ball is then first touched by a player of that team, who has part of his body in contact with the back court.

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

Tough Call 5: AEK v SIG Strasbourg - Basket interference violation

In the end of the fast break, Yellow 0 drives to the basket and a defensive foul is called. After the call, the ball has touched the ring and has still a chance to enter the basket. The ball is tapped away by defensive player Grey 7. No player shall touch the ball after it has touched the ring while it still has the possibility to enter the basket, when an official blows the whistle while the ball is in the hands of a player in the act of shooting, or the ball is in flight on a shot for a field goal, or on a last or only free throw. A basket interference violation should be called on Grey 7, the offensive team awarded 2 points, and Yellow 0 should be awarded one free throw.

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

Tough Call 6: Pinar Karsiyaka v UCAM Murcia - Illegal screen

White team is setting up a pick & roll play in the top of the key. White 21, who sets up the screen, moves his right arm (push) in the end of the screen and is not stationary, creating an illegal contact on Red 27. An illegal screen should be called on White 21. Note that Red 27 also creates an illegal contact on White 17, but it is caused by the first illegal contact of White 21.

Outcome: Correct decision by referees