MUNICH (Germany) - Our weekly Tough Calls feature breaks down selected situations from across EuroLeague Women, with expert analysis from the FIBA Referee Department explaining how each moment was assessed.
TC1: Galatasaray Cagdas Faktoring vs KKZ Crvena Zvezda - Foul not in the act of shooting
Following a ghost screen, Orange #14 receives the ball in the low post, guarded by Red #12. The referee calls a foul in the act of shooting on Red #12, awarding Orange #14 two free throws.
Article 15.1.2
The act of shooting on jump shots or other moving shots:
Starts when the player begins to move the shoulders and the ball upwards towards the opponents’ basket.
Outcome
Incorrect decision by the referee. The foul committed by Red #12 occurs before the act of shooting begins. Therefore, the Orange team should be awarded a throw-in from the place nearest to where the foul occurred.
TC2: Basket Landes vs Casademont Zaragoza - Charge
Red #3 dribbles the ball and starts a drive to the basket. Contact occurs with White #6 and the referee calls an offensive foul on Red #3 for charging.
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 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.
Outcome
Correct decision by the referee. The ball shall be awarded to the White team for a throw-in from the place nearest to where the foul occurred.
TC3: Fenerbahce Tarfin vs Valencia Basket Club - Disruptive Foul
Red team is on offense and has control of the ball. Yellow #33 deflects a pass and, while progressing to attempt to gain control of the ball, Red #1 blocks her opponent. The referee calls a disruptive foul on Red #1.
Article 37.1.1
A disruptive foul is a player’s illegal contact with an opponent which does not rise to the level of a flagrant foul, and which disrupts the flow of the game and places the opponent at a disadvantage. The criteria for disruptive fouls are the following:
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 illegal contact created by red 1 meets one of the criteria for a disruptive foul. Two free throws shall be awarded to yellow #33 and the game shall resume with a Yellow team throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt, and 14 seconds on the shot clock.
FIBA