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

Tough Call 1: Banco di Sardegna Sassari v MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg - Block

Green 9 receives a pass near the basket and a contact with Black 13 occurs. The referee calls a blocking foul in the act of shooting and awards 2 free throws to Green 9.

Article 33.3 A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when:

• He is facing an opponent, and
• He has both feet on the floor.

Article 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 floor.
• Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.

Article 33.10 On any penetration into the no-charge semicircle area any contact caused by an airborne offensive player with a defensive player inside the no-charge semicircle 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, and
• He attempts a shot for a field goal or passes the ball, and
• The defensive player has one foot or both feet in contact with the no-charge semicircle area.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Black 13 has established an initial guarding position and the contact occurs on the torso, so he cannot be responsible for a blocking foul. Moreover, Black 13 is in contact with the no-charge semicircle area, so an offensive foul for charging should not be called to the offensive player. This is a no call situation and the game should continue.

Tough Call 2: Galatasaray Nef v Igokea - Charge

White 44 drives to the basket and a contact occurs with Blue 5. The referee calls an offensive foul to White 44 for charging.

Article 33.3 A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when:

• He is facing an opponent, and
• He has both feet on the floor.

Article 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 floor.
• Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.

Article 33.10 On any penetration into the no-charge semicircle area any contact caused by an airborne offensive player with a defensive player inside the no-charge semicircle 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, and
• He attempts a shot for a field goal or passes the ball, and
• The defensive player has one foot or both feet in contact with the no-charge semicircle area.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Blue 5 has established an initial legal guarding position outside the no-charge semicircle area. The contact occurs on the torso. Offensive foul for charging.

Tough Call 3: ERA Nymburk v PAOK mateco - Goal tending

Near to the end of the game, White 10 drives to the basket and makes a lay-up. The ball is blocked by Black 24 and the referees call a goal tending violation.

Article 31.2.1 Goaltending occurs during a shot for a field 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.

Appendix F3.2 The following game situations may be reviewed when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime:

• Whether a goaltending or basket interference violation was called correctly.

Article 12.3 A jump ball situation occurs when:

• The ball becomes dead when neither team has control of the ball nor is entitled to the ball.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. In these situations in the last 2 minutes of the game, only goaltending or basketball interference violation that have been called can be reviewed. The referee correctly called the goaltending violation and reviewed it using the IRS.

The review showed conclusive evidence that the block was legal, as the ball was still on its upward flight to the basket, and it had not touched the backboard. Therefore, the referees cancel the field goal and a jump ball situations occur as the ball became dead when the referee blew his whistle to call the violation and neither team had control of the ball.

The game shall be resumed with an alternating possession throw-in. The alternating possession arrow indicated that the ball should be for the Black Team. Therefore, the game was resumed after the time out with a Black Team throw-in at the place closest to where the ball was located when the game was stopped.