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: Unicaja vs. Filou Oostende - VIOLATION

Green #0 makes a pass to Green #45, who touches the ball, and it enters the basket from below, before falling through the rim again, into the basket. The referees call a violation, cancel the basket, and award a throw-in to the Yellow team.

Article 16.2.4: If a player causes the entire ball to pass through the basket from below, it is a violation.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. The Yellow team shall resume the game with a throw-in from the free-throw line extended.

TC2: Nanterre 92 vs. Igokea m:tel - OFFENSIVE FOUL

White #7 dribbles the ball and - after a switch - is guarded by Blue #32. A contact occurs and the referee calls an offensive foul committed by White #7.

Article 33.14: Holding is illegal personal contact with an opponent that interferes with an opponent's freedom of movement. This contact, holding, can occur with any part of the body.

Article 33.11: It is a foul by an offensive player with the ball to:

• Hook or wrap an arm or an elbow around a defensive player in order to obtain an advantage.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referee. The contact was created by White #7 affecting the freedom of movement, and defensive stance, of Blue #32. The game shall be resumed with a Blue team throw-in.

TC3: Rytas Vilnius vs. Pallacanestro Reggiana - FOUL AWAY FROM THE BALL

Black #20 is dribbling the ball and attempts a three-point shot. The Lead referee calls an offensive foul against Black #10 on White #31 for charging.

Article 33.7: Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:

• Was moving when contact occurred

• Did not respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when contact occurred

If the opponent is 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.

Article 15.1.3: The act of shooting in a continuous movement on a drive to the basket or other moving shot:

• Starts when the ball has come to rest in the player's hand(s), upon completion of a dribble or a catch in the air and the player begins the shooting motion preceding the release of the ball for a goal.

Article 10.4: The ball does not become dead and the goal counts if made when:

• The ball is in the control of a shooter for a goal who finishes the shot with a continuous motion which started before a foul is committed by any opponent player or by any person permitted to sit on the opponents' team bench.

Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee. White #31 did not respect the elements of time and distance when setting a screen on a moving an opponent. Therefore, he committed a blocking foul. Also, Black #20 had already started his act of shooting for a moving shot, so the basket should have been valid, three points, and Black #10 should have been awarded two free-throws as the White team were in the team fouls penalty.

TC4: ERA Nymburk vs. Galatasaray - BLOCKING FOUL

White #17 passes the ball to White #13, who drives to basket to attempt a layup, and a contact with Black #9 occurs. The referee calls a charge committed by White #13.

Article 33.4: When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:

• The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the court.

• The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.

• When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the court for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.

• Contact must occur on the torso; in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.

• Having established a legal guarding position, the defensive player may turn within the cylinder to avoid injury.

Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee. Black #9 committed a blocking foul as he was still moving and the contact did not occur on his torso. White #13 should have been awarded two free-throws.