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', along with an explanation.

Tough Call 1: PAOK Mateco vs. Tofas Bursa - No goaltending

White 11 makes a lay-up and the ball is blocked by Green 50. The referees let the game continue and then a technical foul is called to White 5 for an open disagreement with the decision.

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 by the referees. This is not a goaltending violation as the ball was not completely above the level of the ring when it was touched by Green 50. The game shall continue with 1 free throw for any Green team player and a throw-in from the place closest to where the ball was when the technical foul was called (Green team’s backcourt) and 24 seconds on the shot clock.

Tough Call 2: Le Mans Sarthe Basket vs. Promitheas Patras - Blocking foul

Black 26 receives the ball and drives towards the opponents’ basket. A contact with White 15 occurs and the referees call a foul in the act of shooting for blocking to the defender.

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 court.
• The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
• When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the court for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
• Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.
• Having established a legal guarding position, the defensive player may turn within his/her cylinder to avoid injury.

Article 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. The contact did not occur on the defender’s torso. Moreover, Black 26 had already started his act of shooting as the ball had come to rest in his hand upon completion of his dribble. Black 26 will attempt 2 free throws.

Tough Call 3: Cholet Basket vs. Banco di Sardegna Sassari - Foul in the act of shooting

Green 0 steals the ball and starts a transition. White 44 tries to reach for the ball creating a contact with his hand. The referees call a foul in the act of shooting to White 44.

Article 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. Green 0's act of shooting had already started as the ball had come to rest in his hand upon completion of his dribble. Green 0 shall attempt 2 free throws.

Tough Call 4: Rytas Vilnius vs. Peristeri bwin - Foul in the act of shooting

Black 21 gets a rebound under the opponents’ basket, he pump fakes, and after the defender, Yellow 15, uses his hand to try to tap the ball away. Finally, the ball goes out of bounds. The referees call the out of bounds and award a Black team throw-in from the endline.

Article 34.1.1: A personal foul is a player’s illegal contact with an opponent, whether the ball is alive or dead.

Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referees. Yellow 15 created an illegal contact with his hand on Black 21’s hand, and wrist, when he attempted to shot and a personal foul in the act of shooting should have been called, awarding 2 free throws to Black 21.

Tough Call 5: Pinar Karsiyaka vs. Rio Breogan - Out of bounds

Green 7 receives the ball and starts his act of shooting. White 1 uses his hand to try to tap the ball away. The ball leaves the court, and the referees call an out of bounds.

Article 34.1.1: A personal foul is a player’s illegal contact with an opponent, whether the ball is alive or dead.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. White 1 did not create any contact with his opponent and only touched the ball. The game shall be resumed with a Green team throw-in from the endline with 2.7 seconds remaining on the shot clock.