MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL games each week. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase transparency, we publish some of those Tough Calls, along with an explanation.
TC1: AEK BC vs. Tofas Bursa - Unsportsmanlike foul and technical foul
After Yellow #21 passes the ball, Green #22 creates a contact against him. The referee calls a personal foul.
Then, Yellow #21 reacts, quickly moving closer to Green #22. After a brief meeting, the officials decide to upgrade Green #22’s personal foul to unsportsmanlike foul and call a technical foul to Yellow #21.
Article 37.1.1: An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which is:
Contact with an opponent not legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
Article 36.2.1: A technical foul is a player non-contact foul of a behavioral 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 36.3.2: The opponents shall be awarded one free throw. The game shall be resumed as follows:
The free throw shall also be administered immediately, regardless of whether the order of any other possible penalties for any other fouls has been determined or whether the administration of the penalties has been started. After the free throw for a technical foul, the game shall be resumed by the team which had control of the ball or was entitled to the ball when the technical foul was committed, from the place where the game has been interrupted for the technical foul penalty.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees.
The game is resumed with the free throw for the technical foul, which is always administered first, and then followed by the unsportsmanlike penalty, that is, two free throws for Yellow #21 and possession of the ball for the Yellow team, at the throw-in line extended in its frontcourt.
TC2: Karditsa Iaponiki vs. ALBA BERLIN - Team control foul
White #1 receives the ball and starts a drive towards the opponents’ basket. A contact with Purple #7 occurs and the referee calls a team control foul to White #1.
Article 33.11: It is a foul by an offensive player with the ball to:
Push off the defensive player to prevent an opponent from playing or attempting to play the ball, or to create more space.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee.
The contact was created by White #1, extending his right forearm, preventing the defender to play the ball and making extra space for him to shoot.
TC3: La Laguna Tenerife vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria - No foul
Black #42 drives to the basket and attempts a reverse lay-up when the referee calls a personal foul to Yellow #23.
Article 33.2: The defensive player must not be penalised for leaving the court vertically, within the cylinder, or having the hands and arms extended above and within that player’s own cylinder.
The offensive player, whether on the court or airborne, shall not cause contact with the defensive player in a legal guarding position by:
Using the arms to create more space, pushing off.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee.
Yellow #23 did not create any illegal contact and the play should have continued.