Tough Call 1: PAOK mateco vs Unicaja - Wrong Free Throw Shooter

Green 3 turns and attempts a shot, which is not successful. On the rebound, the referee calls a personal foul to White 35 for pushing Green 6, who was tapping the ball, in an attempt, to score. After reporting the foul, Green 1 attempts the first free throw, which is successful. After meeting, the referees decide to use the IRS to check who the free shooter should be. After the review, the referees cancel the free throw and award a throw-in to the White team.

F.3.3 The following game situations may be reviewed at any time during the game:

to identify the correct free-throw shooter.
Art. 44.1 Referees may correct an error if a rule is inadvertently disregarded in the following situations only:

Permitting the wrong player to attempt a free throw(s).
Art. 44.3.3 The free throw(s) attempted, and the possession of the ball if part of the penalty, shall be cancelled and the ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a throw-in from the free-throw line extended, unless the game has continued and was stopped for the correction of the error or penalties for further infractions are to be administered, in which case the game shall be resumed from the place it was stopped to correct the error.

Outcome: First, incorrect decision from the referees, since White 18 committed a foul on shooter Green 3. Then, correct decision during the rebound, since White 35 pushed Green 6 on his act of shooting, whilst tapping the ball towards the opponents’ basket. Two free throws should be awarded to Green 6.

However, it was Green 1 who attempted the first free throw. The control by the referees was not properly carried out. According to the Official Basketball Rules this situation is amongst the correctable errors. The referees followed this special procedure: as the game had not resumed yet, they cancelled the free throws and awarded the ball for a throw-in to the opponents. The throw-in should have been administered at the free throw line extended, not behind the endline.