MIES (Switzerland) - Each week, experts are analyzing 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.

Tough Call 1: BAXI Manresa vs Rytas Vilnius - Act of Violence

The White team scores a basket, and the referees stop the game when they see that Red 00 is holding his face. After a short talk, they become unsure if there was a potential act of violence, so they decide to check the IRS. After the review, they call an unsportsmanlike foul to White 4.

OBRI F-3.3.21 In situations when an act of violence occurs which is not called immediately, referees are authorised to stop the game at any time to review any act of violence or potential
act of violence. The referees must identify the need for the IRS review and the review must take place when the referees have stopped the game for the first time.
If the review provides an act of violence has occurred, the referees shall call the infraction and penalise all already called infractions including the act of violence in the order the infractions occurred. Whatever occurred during the interval between the act of violence and the game being stopped shall remain valid.

An act of violence is an act of force that causes or is intended to cause harm, or an act that results or could result in a risk of injury. An act that does not meet the criteria of a disqualifying foul or an unsportsmanlike foul, a technical foul, or does not meet the criteria for a threatened violence is not an act of violence.

Art. 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 opponent.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. They were authorised to review the situation to identify any potential act of violence. The contact created  by White 4 met one of the criteria to be called as an unsportsmanlike foul. The game shall be resumed with 2 free throws for Red 00 and a throw-in for the Red team in the throw-in line in their frontcourt and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Tough Call 2: BAXI Manresa vs Rytas Vilnius - Foul not in the Act of Shooting

White 2 passes the ball to White 14. The referee call a personal foul to Red 12 on White 14 and signals a foul in the act of shooting. The crew meet and decide that the foul was committed on a player not in the act of shooting.

Art. 15.1.3 The act of shooting in a continuous movement on a drive to the basket or other moving shot:
• Starts when the ball has come to rest in the player’s hand(s), upon completion of a dribble or a catch in the air and the player begins, in the judgment of the referee, the shooting motion preceding the release of the ball for a goal.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. White 14 never gained the control of the ball, so the act of shooting had not started. The game shall be resumed with a White team throw-in from the place closest to where the foul occurred and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Tough Call 3: Lenovo Tenerife vs UCAM Murcia - Travelling

Yellow 19 steals a ball and makes a pass to Yellow 3, who tries to make a lay-up. The referee calls a travelling violation.

Art. 25.2.1 A player who catches the ball while he/she is progressing, or upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball:
▬ The first step occurs when one foot or both feet touch the court after gaining
control of the ball.
▬ The second step occurs after the first step when the other foot touches the
court or both feet touch the court simultaneously.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. Yellow 3 caught the ball with both feet in the air, then his left foot touched the floor (first step), then his right foot (second step) and then again, his left foot. This is a travelling violation.

Tough Call 4: Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs JDA Bourgogne Dijon - Offensive Foul

White 15 is dribbling the ball and a contact occurs with Red 6. The referee calls an offensive personal foul to White 15.

Art. 33.11 It is a foul by an offensive player with the ball to:
• 'Hook' or wrap an arm or an elbow around a defensive player in order to obtain an advantage.
• Use an extended forearm or hand, while dribbling, to prevent an opponent from gaining control of the ball

Art. 33.14 Holding is illegal personal contact with an opponent that interferes with his/her freedom of movement. This contact (holding) can occur with any part of the body.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. White 15 created an illegal contact on his defender by holding (clamping) his arm. The game shall be resumed with a Red team throw-in from the place closest to where the foul occurred and 24 seconds on the shot clock.