MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all BCL 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: SL Benfica vs. Bertram Derthona Basket - UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
Red 33 steals the ball and starts a transition. White 2 creates a contact and the referee calls an Unsportsmanlike Foul on White 2.
Art. 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.
An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player starts the act of shooting.
An illegal contact caused by a player from behind or laterally on an opponent, who is progressing towards the opponent’s basket and with no opponents between the progressing player and the basket, and
the progressing player is in control of the ball, or
the progressing player is attempting to gain control of the ball, or
the ball has been released on a pass to the progressing player.
This applies until the offensive player starts the act of shooting.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. The contact created by White 2 met two of the criteria to be considered an Unsportsmanlike Foul, as it is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball and was created to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition; also, the contact was created laterally by a player on an opponent progressing towards the basket and no other opponent between the dribbler and the opponents’ basket.
TC2: BAXI Manresa vs. NINERS Chemnitz - CHARGE
Black 9 receives the ball and attempts to make a lay-up. A contact occurs with the defender, Red 21, who is in contact with the no-charge semi-circle. The referee calls an offensive foul to Black 9.
Art. 33.2: During the game, each player has the right to occupy any position (cylinder) on the court not already occupied by an opponent.
This principle protects the space on the court which the player occupies and the space above when jumping vertically within that space.
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.
Art. 33.10: On any penetration play into the no-charge semi-circle area, any contact caused by an airborne offensive player with a defensive player inside the no-charge semi-circle shall not be called as a team control foul, unless the offensive player is illegally using the hands, arms, legs or body.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. Black 9 extended his right leg outside of his cylinder, creating a contact, with his right knee, against Red 21, who had established a legal guarding position and jumped vertically within his cylinder. The no-charge semi-circle rule is not applied.
TC3: Rytas Vilnius vs. Falco-Vulcano Szombathely - TRAVELLING
Yellow 5 receives the ball, in the low post area, with his back to the basket. He pivots to face his defender and starts a dribble. The referee calls a travelling violation.
Art. 25.2.1: Establishing a pivot foot by a player who catches a live ball on the court:
A player who catches the ball while standing with both feet on the court:
The moment one foot is lifted; the other foot becomes the pivot foot.
To start a dribble, the pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released from the hand(s).
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. Yellow 5 moved his right foot; thus, his left foot became his pivot foot. He then lifted his pivot foot, left foot, before releasing the ball to start his dribble. Travelling violation.
TC4: VEF Riga vs. AEK betsson - ADVANTAGE/DISADVANTAGE
Black 30 drives to the basket and the referee calls a foul on defender, Yellow 21. Black 30’s lay-up is successful. The Black team Head Coach request his head coach challenge to upgrade the personal foul to an unsportsmanlike foul.
Art. 47.3: When deciding on an infraction, the referees shall, in each instance, have regard for, and consider, the following fundamental principles:
Consistency in application of the concept of 'advantage/disadvantage'. The referees should not seek to interrupt the flow of the game unnecessarily in order to penalise incidental personal contact which neither, gives the player responsible an advantage, nor places the opponent at a disadvantage.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee. The contact created by Yellow 21 should have been considered as a marginal contact. It did not affect the offensive player’s freedom of movement and did not put Black 30 at a disadvantage. Therefore, no foul should have been called on this play situation.