Euroleague Basketball report on Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. FC Barcelona

Following speculation surrounding the final minutes of the fourth quarter in the Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. FC Barcelona game on October 18, 2024, Euroleague Basketball’s findings are:

With 1:56 remaining on the game clock, Joel Bolomboy received a pass and gained control of the ball while airborne. He then landed with his left foot, took one step and landed with his right foot before moving his left foot again. This is a travelling violation. Following that action, he initiated a dribble by lifting his left foot before releasing the ball and he changed his pivot foot again. Incorrect no call
With 1:14 remaining on the game clock, Yago Dos Santos is guarded by Jan Vesely who attempted to play defense. Vesely contacted Dos Santos’s hips and legs causing illegal contact that should have been called as a personal defensive foul. Incorrect no call
With 1:12 remaining on the game clock, Yago Dos Santos initiated an act of shooting on a drive to the basket and his shot was legally blocked by Jan Vesely who touched the ball. A personal defensive foul was called on Vesely. Incorrect call
With 1:06 remaining on the game clock, Nicolas Laprovittola dribbled the ball in the frontcourt and was guarded by Mike Daum, who created contact with both hands restricting his freedom of movement. A personal defensive foul was called. Correct call
With 29.3 seconds remaining on the game clock, Joel Bolomboy gained control of the ball via a defensive rebound and was guarded by Jan Vesely. In an attempt to steal the ball, Vesely touched Bolomboy’s face. A personal defensive foul should have been called. Incorrect no call
With 26.0 seconds remaining on the game clock, Joel Bolomboy and Jan Vesely had both hands firmly on the ball so that neither player could gain control of the ball. The officials called a held ball. Correct call
This is a reviewable play according to the Euroleague Basketball Bylaws (Appendix XIII – Article 4.3 Act of Violence – Article 5 Head Coach Challenge). The play was challenged by Zvezda head coach, Ioannis Sfairopoulos. Upon review, the referees confirmed their initial decision because none of the actions met the criteria for an act of violence. Correct decision
The game was then resumed with a jump ball situation in the closest circle between Joel Bolomboy and Jan Vesely, with 26.0 seconds remaining in the game clock and 20 seconds left in the shot clock.

In that situation, if the defensive team would gain control of the ball, they would be awarded with new 24 seconds on the shot clock, but if the offensive team gained control of the ball, the shot clock would be resumed and the time remaining to pass to the front court would be 4 seconds. In the toss, Joel Bolomboy tapped the ball towards Mike Daum and the game clock was resumed correctly when the jumper touched the ball. The shot clock resumed correctly when the offensive player took control of the ball.. When the game clock showed 20.4 and the shot clock 15 seconds, the referees should have called an 8-second violation by Zvezda. Incorrect no call
With 14.9 seconds remaining on the game clock, after several protests and gestures by Barcelona head coach, Joan Penarroya, and Barcelona bench personnel, a technical foul was called. Correct call
This is not a reviewable play according to the Euroleague Basketball Bylaws (Appendix XIII – Article 4.1 Game Clock Error). This article states that “an error/malfunction occurs in the shot and/or game clock and it does not start/stop/countdown correctly at any time in the game before or after the ball is in play. The referees will review the footage to determine the following issues only: how much time actually expired and how much time (if any) is remaining on the shot and/or game clock in the quarter or overtime. If the referees find evidence that a made basket was scored after the expiration of the shot or game clock, the basket will not count as long as the error is still correctable according to the rules.”

The game clock and the shot clock started correctly in the previous play and therefore an 8-second violation cannot be decided on the monitor after review with the Instant Replay System. Incorrect decision
The game was incorrectly resumed with a throw-in for Barcelona in the frontcourt where the supposed 8-second violation was committed.
With 20.4 seconds remaining on the game clock, Nicolas Laprovittola received the ball to inbound the ball and he kept the ball for 4.81 seconds before he released a pass to Jan Vesely. This action is legal. Correct no call