Foul calls spark push for review
THE NBL season isn’t even two rounds old, but the referees have already been labelled “inconsistent”, with frustrated fans, players and club officials calling for a review of the league’s unsportsmanlike foul.
The officiating has dominated conversation over the weekend, with crucial calls leaving everyone involved in the game seeking answers. The confusion started in Friday’s blockbuster clash between the Sydney Kings and Brisbane Bullets when Kings coach Chase Buford received a technical foul for waving his arms at the officials. It’s understood the referees told Buford to, “work with us”, which understandably annoyed the Kings mentor.
The general consensus from the Sydney franchise is it’s hard for coaches and players to be better if the officials won’t meet them halfway.
The referees’ interpretation of the unsportsmanlike foul also created debate in Saturday night’s Perth Wildcats versus Illawarra Hawks game.
Hawks power forward Deng Deng was slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul in the final two minutes of a 77-71 loss for what looked like incidental contact with Wildcats forward Luke Travers as he attempted to stop Travers scoring a breakaway basket. The play was sent to the Review Centre but commentator Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams was adamant there was no foul.
“That’s not a clear path foul, he (Deng) is right next to him,” Williams said.
The review confirmed an unsportsmanlike foul on Deng, prompting fellow commentator Lanard Copeland to say: “What? That isn’t a great call at this time of the game – they were standing right next to each other.”
The call sparked outrage online, with fans and former players calling for an immediate review of the unsportsmanlike foul.
The NBL, though, insists the decision to hit Deng with an unsportsmanlike foul was correct based on the FIBA ruling the league follows.
FIBA ruling aside, plenty of fans and legends want to see the unsportsmanlike foul reviewed.