MIES (Switzerland) - 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 this week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: RETAbet Bilbao vs Brose Bamberg - No Charge Semicircle

Black 8 starts a fast break and goes for a lay-up. Defender White 20 stands in a legal guarding position and a contact occurs. The referee calls a charging foul to Black 8.

Article 33.10 On any penetration play into the no-charge semi-circle area, any contact caused by an airborne offensive player with a defensive player inside the no-charge semi-circle shall not be called as an offensive foul, unless the offensive player is illegally using his hands, arms, legs or body. This rule applies when:

• The offensive player is in control of the ball whilst airborne.
• He attempts a shot for a field goal or passes the ball.
• The defensive player has one foot or both feet in contact with the no-charge semi-circle area.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Defender White 20 had his left foot in contact with the no-charge semi-circle. 2 points should have been awarded to Black 8 for the field goal.

Tough Call 2: Tofas Bursa vs ERA Nymburk - Backcourt Violation

After a Black team shot for a field goal, Black 20 goes for the rebound and catches the ball with both hands, he then passes the ball backwards. Black 11 jumps from his frontcourt and touches the ball during its flight. The ball then bounces on the Black team backcourt and then it is touched by Black 32, who is on his frontcourt and he passes the ball to Black 4 also on his frontcourt.

Article 14.1.1 Team control starts when a player of that team is in control of a live ball by holding or dribbling it or has a live ball at his disposal.

Article 30.1.2 (bullet 2) A team in control of the ball in the frontcourt (from the moment the player caught it near the corner) has caused the ball to be illegally returned to the backcourt, if a player of that team is the last to touch the ball in his frontcourt (Black 11) and the ball is then first touched by a player of that team:

• after the ball has touched the backcourt of that team

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Black team established a new team control when Black 20 caught the ball in the corner. Black 11 legally touched the ball in his frontcourt and then the ball was first touched by Black 32 after the ball had touched the Black team backcourt. The ball was illegally returned to the backcourt.

Tough Call 3: Galatasaray vs Bakken Bears - Offensive Foul

White 4 is dribbling whilst being guarded by Black 12. There is a contact and the referee calls a foul to White 4, offensive foul.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The defender didn’t create any illegal contact. It was the dribbler who clamped his defender with his left arm.

Tough Call 4: Hapoel Holon vs Cholet - Offensive Foul

Red 0 receives the ball and goes to the basket for a lay-up. In his movement, his left arm hits the defender’s face and the referees call an offensive foul to Red 0.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Red 0 left arm was outside his cylinder and created an illegal contact against an opponent who had a legal guarding position. 

Tough Call 5: Filou Oostende vs Hereda San Pablo Burgos - UF and TF

After a Yellow team field goal, Black 18 has the ball in his hands to make the throw-in when Yellow 8 tries to interfere with the throw-in and falls to the floor. The referees stop the game and while two referees are talking, Black 18 pushes Yellow 6. The referees decide to check IRS and finally they call an Unsportsmanlike Foul to Black 18. Yellow 6 is awarded 2 free throws and the possession of the ball is awarded to the Yellow team for a throw in at the throw-in line and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Article 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.

Article 36.2.1 A technical foul is a player non-contact foul of a behavioural nature including:

• Fake being fouled
• Excessive swinging of elbows

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees.

1. Yellow 8 grabs Black 18 from by waist during the attempt to throw-in. This should be an UF to Yellow 8, 2 free throws and possession for Black 18
2. Then Black 18 excessively swings his elbows. This should be a TF to Black 18 as there was no contact made with Yellow 8. 1 free throw for Yellow team.
3. Yellow 8 excessively fakes being fouled, so he should receive a TF. 1 free throw for Black team.
4. Finally Black 18 pushes Yellow 6, so an UF should be called to Black 18. 2 free throws and possession for Yellow 6.

Article 36.2.3    A player shall be disqualified for the remainder of the game when he is charged with:

• 2 technical fouls, or
• 2 unsportsmanlike fouls or
• 1 unsportsmanlike foul and 1 technical foul.

Yellow 8 and Black 18 should have been disqualified after being charged with 1 UF and 1 TF each.

Article 42.2.3 All equal penalties against the teams shall be cancelled in the order in which they were called.

The penalty for the UF called to Yellow 8 (2 free throws + possession) and the penalty for the UF called to Black 18 (2 free throws + possession) cancel each other

The penalty for the TF called to Black 18 (1 free throw) and the penalty for the TF called to Yellow 8 (1 free throw) cancel each other.

Article 42.2.8 If after the cancellation of equal penalties against both teams there are no other penalties remaining for administration, the game shall be resumed as follows. If at approximately the same time as the first infraction:

• A team had control of the ball or was entitled to the ball, the ball shall be awarded to this team for a throw-in from the place nearest to the first infraction.

Therefore, the game should be resumed with a throw-in to the Black team from their own baseline and 24 seconds in the shot clock.