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: AEK Betsson vs. VEF Riga - SHOOTER’S FOUL
Black 13 shoots for a 3-point goal and a contact occurs with Yellow 77. The referee calls a foul to Black 13.
Article 33.2: 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).
Spreading the legs or arms during or immediately after a shot for a goal.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. The game will be resumed with a Yellow team throw-in, as this was the 4th team foul for Black in the quarter, and therefore not in the team foul penalty.
TC2: Bertram Derthona vs. SL Benfica - FOUL AND FAKE
Black 2 is dribbling the ball guarded by White 6. Black 0 sets a screen and the referees call a team control foul.
Article 33.7: If the screen is set to an opponent in motion, the elements of time and distance shall apply. The screener must leave enough space so that the player who is being screened is able to avoid the screen by stopping or changing direction. The distance required is never less than 1 and never more than 2 normal steps.
Article 33.16: Fake is any action by a player to simulate being fouled or to make theatrical exaggerated movements in order to create an opinion of being fouled and therefore gaining an advantage.
OBRI 36-12: Whenever a player fakes being fouled, the following procedure shall apply:
All faking to be fouled situations shall be addressed, regardless of whether fouls or violations are called or not in the same situation.
A player may be charged with both a foul and a ‘fake a foul warning’ on any play, or the player who is fouled may also be charged with a ‘fake a foul warning’.
Outcome: The screen was illegal. Black 0 did not allow enough time and distance when setting the screen on a moving opponent. However, White 6 exaggerated the contact. The referee should charge White 6 with a fake warning, if this is the White team’s first fake warning or a technical foul, if the White team have received a previous fake warning.
TC3: La Laguna Tenerife vs. Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball - FOUL IN THE ACT OF SHOOTING
Black 1 receives a pass and attempts a 3-point jump shot. White 4 tries to block the shot, a contact occurs, and the referee calls a foul to White 4. The ball enters the basket.
Article 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.
When the player leaves the vertical position (cylinder) and body contact occurs with an opponent who had already established that player’s own vertical position (cylinder), the player who left the vertical position (cylinder) is responsible for the contact.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. Black 1 jumped vertically within his cylinder and White 4 left his own cylinder, creating an illegal contact with the shooter’s right leg. Black 1 shall be awarded 3 points and he shall attempt 1 additional free throw.
TC4: NINERS Chemnitz vs BAXI Manresa - CORRECTABLE ERROR
After the Red team lost the control of the ball on the drive to the basket, the referee calls a personal foul to Red 35 for holding Orange 33 from the back when the game clock shows 1:44 until the end of the 3rd quarter. When the referee reported the foul to the table officials, he shows the wrong player’s number, Red 13 instead of Red 35.
None of the participants, officials or teams, recognised the error.
Article 1.2: Participants’ responsibility
All participants in the game, table officials, the technical delegates/commissioners, if present, all team members entitled to play, the head coaches and other accompanying delegation members should play a positive role in the smooth running of the game and are expected to always demonstrate ethical behaviour. Should they become aware of an inaccuracy (correctable error) in scorekeeping involving the score, fouls, time-outs as well as the timekeeping and shot clock operations, they are expected to notify the referees immediately to ensure and facilitate the error to be corrected in accordance with these rules.
Article 44.2: Correctable errors category 1 – Definition
The below category 1 errors may be corrected by the referees if a rule is incorrectly applied:
Reporting a foul against the wrong player, head coach or team.
Article 44.3: Correctable errors category 1 – General procedures
To be correctable, the errors must be identified by the referees, commissioner, if present or table officials as follows:
If the error occurs before the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter, the error must be corrected before 2:00 minutes or less are remaining on the game clock.
Outcome: The referee reported the wrong player’s number for the foul. This is one of the Correctable Errors - Category 1. The error could have been corrected before the game clock showed 2:00 in the 4th quarter, recording the foul to the correct player.