Following the Euroleague Basketball Top 16 Draw, the Board of Directors – presided over by Eduardo Portela, the ULEB President – discussed various topics related to current economic, athletic and social state of the organization. The Euroleague Basketball Board is comprised of representatives from the Italian Lega, Spain’s Liga ACB, the Greek HEBA, Benetton Treviso, CSKA Moscow, Efes Pilsen Istanbul, Winterthur FC Barcelona, Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos Athens.

The Board covered items put forth by the organization’s front office regarding the in-house management of television rights, sponsorship and merchandising, and it approved the use of instant replay during the Final Four competition, which will be held this year in Prague from April 28 to 30. The basic principle that will govern the use of instant replay is that “it will be used solely in cases of doubt involving a foul being committed or a shot for goal being made, with no time remaining on the game clock (0:00).” Below you will find all pertinent information related to the implementation of instant replay.

The competition department presented the Board with a report detailing the conditions of the 24 arenas of each of the teams competing in the current 2005-06 season. After highlighting the deficiencies found, all were in agreement that a complete report will be sent to each club, specifying the exact modifications that must be carried out and setting a deadline of October 2006 to complete minor upgrades and October 2007 for renovations that require structural changes.

The Board decided to change the date of the annual Euroleague Basketball Draw, which was held in July, to September. The definitive date, the format and related activities that will take place will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Lastly, the Board approved the organization’s front office project on scouting for the clubs. The first part of the project, which consists of three developmental phases, will be instituted during this season’s Top 16. Euroleague Basketball will make available to the participating clubs images from all of the games by way of an Internet site. The clubs will be able to download the information they need through a password-protected system.

Instant Replay in Euroleague Competition.

Basic Principles

Instant Replay is only to be used in cases of doubt involving a foul being committed or a shot for goal being made, with no time remaining on the game clock. (0.00)

Art.1. Instant replay would be automatically referred to in the following situations:

a. A field goal made with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of the 4th period or any extra period, that if counted would affect or potentially affect the final outcome of the game.
b. A field goal made with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd period.
c. A foul called with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of the 4th period or any extra period, that if valid would affect or potentially affect the final outcome of the game.
d. A foul called with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd period.

Instant replay would NOT be used to check a successful basket in (a) and (b) if a throw-in or free throw attempt started with 0.02 or 0.01 on the game clock.

Reviewable matters

Art.2. If an Instant Replay review is used as a result of Art.1a and 1b the Officials will review the tape to determine ONLY the following issues:

a. Whether the time on the game clock expired BEFORE the ball left the hand of the shooter.
b. If the shot was released on time, whether the successful field goal scored was a 2 point or 3 point field goal.
c. If the shot was released on time, whether the shooter committed an out of bounds violation. For the purposes of the review, the Officials would only look at the position of the shooter’s feet at the moment they last touched the floor immediately prior to (or if applicable during) the release of the shot.
d. Whether the 24 second clock expired before the ball left the shooter’s hands.
e. Whether an 8 second back court violation occurred before the ball left the shooter’s hands.
f. Whether a foul, which is called, is not committed on or by a player in the act of shooting occurred prior to the illumination of the red LED lights. Whether a foul which is called is committed on or by a player in the act of shooting, the ball was released prior to the illumination of the red LED lights, the foul shall be administered.

Art.3. If an Instant Replay review is used as a result of Art.1c and 1d the Officials will review the tape to determine ONLY the following issues:

a. Whether the foul which was called, occurred PRIOR to the illumination of the red LED lights (signalling the end of playing time).

NB. The Officials would be permitted to utilise instant replay to determine whether (and how much) time should be put on the game clock but only when it is confirmed through replay that:

a. The shooter committed an out of bounds violation.
b. A 24 second violation occurred.
c. An 8 second back court violation occurred.
d. A foul was called prior to the illumination of the red LED lights (signalling the end of playing time.

Replay Review Process

a. All replay reviews will be conducted by the Officials as a crew after gathering as much information as possible from valid sources. In cases of “disagreement”, the Crew Chief will make the final decision.
b. The call made by the Officials during play would only be changed when the replay provides the Officials with “clear and conclusive” visual evidence to do so.
NB. FIBA Rules

Art. C4. p.70.

Videos, film, pictures or any equipment, visual, electronic, digital or otherwise, shall not be used to determine or change the result of a game. The use of such equipment is valid only to determine responsibility in matters of discipline or for educational (training) purposes after the game has ended.