A bizarre situation has arisen in the National Basketball League as Portlaoise Panthers have been ordered to replay 0.3 seconds of their playoff.
Last week, the National Appeals Committee (NAC) sensationally ordered that Portlaoise Panthers’ quarter-final against Limerick Sport Eagles be replayed.
In the game which took place on Saturday March 23, former Irish international captain, Jason Killeen was adjudged to have been fouled in the act of shooting as the buzzer sounded.
Killeen scored the resulting free throws to give the Eagles a two-point win in St Mary’s Hall, 80-78.
Portlaoise lodged an appeal following the game on the grounds that the free throws should not have been permitted as the clock had expired at the same time that the foul had been called.
While the NAC found that the free throws were correctly awarded, it also ruled that the referees and match commissioner erred in not placing a fraction of a second back on the clock and allowing a restart of the game.
“Given that both referees and the commissioner erred, it would be a serious injustice not to grant a replay of the game. The NAC directs a full replay of the game at the same venue. The decision of the NAC is final,” they said.
However, the National League Committee have since overturned this decision and have decided that 0.3 seconds should be played instead.
Portlaoise Panthers are contesting whether the National League Committee have the power to do this and are awaiting clarification.
Portlaoise Panthers have released the following statement regarding the ongoing situation:
“The National League Committee (NLC) informed us that they are overruling the NAC’s decision to have our game versus UL Sport Eagles replayed in full.
“The NLC have instead instructed us to play 0.3 seconds.
“We quoted FIBA rule Article 8-2 in support of our appeal which states all fouls must be called before the buzzer, any foul called after the buzzer must be cancelled.
“As both referee and commissioner reports supported our claim that there was no time left on clock the game should have ended and a five-minute overtime period should have been played.
“In reply to our appeal the National League committee stated they could not hear an appeal based on the error of a referee and it must be heard by the NAC.
“Two delegates from Portlaoise Panthers travelled to Tallaght on Wednesday, March 27 for the appeal meeting. At 19.55pm on Wednesday night we received the appeal decision document which stated the National Appeals Committee decision that the game will be replayed in full and in the same venue.
“The last line of this document was “The National Appeals Committee decision is final ” and that if we wished to appeal this decision we could do so via Sports Dispute Solutions Ireland and that we have five days to do so.
“We received no official communication from Basketball Ireland over the next four days but we did however receive three phone calls from a senior member of the Basketball Ireland executive requesting us to withdraw our appeal.
“We find this tactic and approach most worrying and feel a member of the Basketball Ireland executive should not be involved in the appeals process.
“On Sunday, March 31, we received an email from the the NLC stating that they do not agree with the NAC decision and that they were overruling the decision based on rule 1.1.2 of the Men’s National Competition Regulations which states:
“‘Where interpretation of the regulations is required the NLC will have the right to exercise its judgement and discretion taking into account the best interests of Basketball Ireland.’
“We were also told no further communication would be facilitated on this matter. This rule quoted above pertains to decisions made by the NLC and does not give them the power to overturn a NAC decision.
“We are awaiting clarification from Basketball Ireland on this. We feel Basketball Ireland are failing to follow their own Rules and Regulations.
“As stated in the appeal decision document we received ‘The NAC decision is final’ therefore the NLC cannot overturn the decision of the NAC.
“The lack of openness, transparency and appropriate communication from Basketball Ireland during this process has been frustrating.”
SEE ALSO – Meeting planned to begin talks on a proposed major new indoor sports complex in Portlaoise
