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.

TC1: Pinar Karsiyaka vs. Lenovo Tenerife - Holding

White 3 drives towards the opponent’s basket with Black 9 closely guarding him. A contact between both players occurs and the referee calls an offensive foul to White 3.

Article 33.14: Holding is illegal personal contact with an opponent that interferes with his/her freedom of movement.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. White 3 created an illegal contact grabbing the defender. White 3 clamped, with his left arm, Black 9’s right arm.

TC2: Promitheas Patras vs. AEK BETSSON BC - Held ball

Black 25 receives a pass and jumps to shoot. He is blocked by White 3, and both players return to the floor. The referee calls a held ball.

Article 12.1.2: A held ball occurs when one or more players from opposing teams have one or both hands firmly on the ball so that neither player can gain control without undue roughness.

Article 12.4: A jump ball situation occurs when:
• A held ball is called.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. White 3 had one hand firmly on the ball when both the offensive player and he landed. Therefore, this is a held ball, resulting in a jump ball situation. The game will be resumed with a throw-in for the team entitled to the next alternating possession.

TC3: Cholet Basket vs. SIG Strasbourg - Unsportsmanlike foul

Blue 3 receives the ball under the opponent’s basket and attempts a jump shot. The referee calls an unsportsmanlike foul to White 12.

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 37.2.2: Free throw(s) shall be awarded to the player who was fouled, followed by:
• A throw-in from the throw-in line in the team’s frontcourt.

The number of free throws shall be awarded as follows:
• If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting: the goal, if made, shall count and, in addition, 1 free throw will be awarded.

Article 50.4: The shot clock shall be stopped and reset to 14 seconds, with 14 seconds visible, when:
• A team shall be awarded a throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt because of an unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. The contact created by White 12 met one of the criteria to be considered an unsportsmanlike foul. As Blue 3 was in the act of shooting and the ball entered the basket, he shall be awarded the 2 points and shall shoot 1 free throw. The game shall be resumed with a Blue team throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

TC4: Peristeri bwin vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem - Unsportsmanlike foul and act of violence

Yellow 14 fouls Black 3 and the referee calls an unsportsmanlike foul to Yellow 14. Afterwards, there is some interaction between Yellow 14 and Black 11. The referees decide to check the IRS to identify any potential act of violence between these two players. After the review, the call a technical foul to Yellow 14 and Black 11 and disqualify Yellow 14. The game was resumed with 2 free throws for Black 3 and a Black team throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt 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:
•  Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

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.

Article 36.2.1: A technical foul is a player non-contact foul of a behavioural nature including, but not limited to:
• Disrespectfully dealing and/or communicating with the referees, the commissioner, if present, the table officials, the opponents, or persons permitted to sit on the team benches.
• Baiting and taunting an opponent.

Article 42.1: In the same game clock stopped period which follows an infraction, special situations may arise when additional infraction(s) are or have been committed.

Article 42.2.1: All fouls shall be charged, and all penalties identified.

Article 42.2.2: The order in which all infractions occurred shall be determined.

Article 37.2.2: (For an unsportsmanlike foul) Free throw(s) shall be awarded to the player who was fouled, followed by:
• A throw-in from the throw-in line in the team’s frontcourt.

The number of free throws shall be awarded as follows:
• If the foul is committed on a player not in the act of shooting: 2 free throws.

Article 36.3.2: If a technical foul is committed, the opponents shall be awarded 1 free throw.

Article 42.2.3: All equal penalties on the teams and all double foul penalties shall be cancelled in the order in which they were committed. Once all foul penalties have been entered on the scoresheet and cancelled, they are considered as never having occurred.

Article 36.2.3: A player shall be disqualified for the remainder of the game (game disqualification) when he/she is charged with 2 technical fouls, or 2 unsportsmanlike fouls, or with 1 unsportsmanlike foul and 1 technical foul.

Outcome: Correct decisions by the referees. The contact created by Yellow 14 on Black 3 was an excessive, hard contact and therefore was called as an unsportsmanlike foul.

Then, the IRS review provided clear visual evidence that the behaviour of both Yellow 14 and Black 11 should be charged with one technical foul for each of them.

The penalties (1 free throw for each team) of these 2 technical fouls cancel each other, so the only penalty to be administered is the unsportsmanlike foul, that is, 2 free throws for Black 3 and the game will be resumed with a Black team throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Moreover, Yellow 14 must be disqualified for the remainder of the game as he was charged with 1 unsportsmanlike foul and 1 technical foul.

TC5: Peristeri bwin vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem - Pushing

Near the end of the game, the Yellow team misses a 3-point shot and a rebound situation occurs. Players from both teams try to reach for the ball and a personal foul is called to Black 44.

Article 33.15: Pushing is illegal personal contact with any part of the body where a player forcibly moves or attempts to move an opponent with or without the ball.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. On the fight for the ball, Black 44 pushed Yellow 24 from the back. As the Black team was already in the team foul penalty situation, Yellow 24 shall attempt 2 free throws.

TC6: Telekom Baskets Bonn vs. Galatasaray EKMAS - Pushing

The White team misses a three-point shot and a rebound situation occurs. The referees call a personal foul to White 11.

Article 33.15: Pushing is illegal personal contact with any part of the body where a player forcibly moves or attempts to move an opponent with or without the ball.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. White 11 pushed Red 12, who then pushed White 2 because of the first illegal contact. As the White team was already in the team foul penalty situation, Red 12 shall attempt 2 free throws.