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: EWE Baskets Oldenburg v Filou Oostende - Fake Being Fouled

Red 44 is dribbling the ball and a contact occurs with Yellow 4. The referees call a team control foul to Red 44 for charging.

Article 33.16: Fake is any action by a player to simulate that he/she has been fouled or to make theatrical exaggerated movements in order to create an opinion of being fouled and therefore gaining an advantage.

OBRI 36-12  Statement: Whenever a player fakes a foul, the following procedure shall apply:

• Without stopping the game, the referee signals the fake by showing twice the ‘raise-the-lower-arm’ signal.

• When the game is stopped, a warning shall be communicated to the player and the head coach of the team. Each team is entitled to 1 ‘fake being fouled’ warning.

• The next time any player of this team fakes a foul, a technical foul shall be called. This also applies when the game was not stopped to communicate the earlier warning to any player or head coach of that team.

• If an excessive fake without any contact occurs, a technical foul may be called immediately without a warning being given.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. The contact between Red 44 and Yellow 4 is a normal basketball play. Yellow 4 used this normal contact to fake being fouled. A warning should have been given to the Yellow team and in case there is a repetition of the same action by any player of the Yellow team, a technical for fake being fouled shall be called.

Tough Call 2: Bursaspor Info Yatirim v Hapoel Holon - Travelling Rule

White 23 drives to the opponents’ basket and makes a lay-up. The referees call a travelling violation to White 23.

Article 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: Incorrect decision from the referees. White 23 gained control of the ball with his right foot on the floor. The first step occurred when he put his left foot on the floor and the second step occurred when he put his right foot on the floor again. Then, he released the ball for the shot before putting any foot on the floor again. This is a legal play.

Tough Call 3: Rytas Vilnius v Promitheas Patras - Foul and Game Clock Reset

Black 8 makes a lay-up and the referee calls a personal foul to White 23 approximately at the same time as the shot clock signal sounds. The ball enters the basket.

The referees meet and decide that the foul occurred before the signal sounded. They also realize that the game clock did not stop when the foul was called and decide to review the IRS to correct the game clock.

OBRI 29-6: B1 fouls A1 in the act of shooting for a goal when at approximately the same time the shot clock expired. The ball enters the basket. If the ball was already in the air on A1’s shot for a goal and B1’s foul occurred before the shot clock expired, it is not a shot clock violation. A1’s goal shall count. A1 shall attempt 1 additional free throw. The game shall be resumed as after any last free throw.

F 3-3 : The following game situations may be reviewed at any time of the game:

                        • after a malfunction of the game clock or the shot clock occurs, on how much time the clock(s) shall be corrected

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The foul was committed before the shot clock period expired, so the basket is valid and Black 8 shall attempt one free throw. The game clock was correctly reset to 9:36, the time remaining when the foul was committed.