KBL referees are still insufficient to meet the expectations of basketball fans [바스켓볼 브레이크]

Wonju General Gymnasium on the 12th, where the second round of the regular league ‘2024-2025 KCC Professional Basketball’ match between Wonju DB and Seoul SK was held. A chaotic situation was created regarding the decision at the end of the game.

SK Jamil Warney grabbed the rebound 1 minute and 2 seconds before the end of the game. DB Kim Young-hyun was flagged for a foul while trying to intercept it. DB requested a foul challenge, but the result did not change. The video on the electronic display board in the stadium did not clearly show whether Kim Young-hyun committed a foul. The referee, who even checked their own video, said, “Kim Young-hyun’s foul is upheld. “We give SK two free throws,” he explained. The place was agitated. The DB bench protested after the operation time, but the result remained the same.

The game resumed, and another ambiguous scene occurred just before the end. This time it was the opposite. DB Kim Si-rae grabbed the rebound, and SK Warney stretched out his arms in an attempt to steal. Kim Si-rae, who was competing for the ball, fell backwards. There were boos for not pointing out the foul, and SK caught the ball and quickly attacked. In response, DB coach Kim Joo-seong made a strong appeal, and technical fouls were called one after another and he was ejected. The crowd’s booing got louder, and even water bottles were thrown onto the court. DB club officials also came to the court.

Kim Young-hyun’s foul was concluded as a true decision. A video showing Kim Young-hyun hitting Warnie’s wrist with his right arm has been confirmed. However, the second scene appears to be a miscarriage of justice. In the video posted online, Warney’s left hand goes towards Kim Si-rae’s wrist. The KBL game headquarters said, “We have confirmed the videos of Kim Si-rae and Warnie. “I don’t think I could have seen it clearly from the position of referee,” he said, effectively admitting that there was a misjudgment.

The accuracy of the decisions is an issue, but the referees’ management of the game leaves something to be desired. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), when a foul challenge is requested from each bench, the referees explain the final decision in great detail after checking the video from various angles. This is to make the fans who visited the stadium understand.

However, the referees who managed the DB-SK match only briefly mentioned the final result. It was a decision that fans who saw the video on the stadium electronic display could not accept. The fans were excited, and the DB bench was also excited. In this atmosphere, the game was restarted, and an ambiguous situation was created again, creating a hostile atmosphere. This is a point where the referees should have paid more attention.

This aspect must be improved in the future. In order to reach fans, KBL must be able to work together and communicate in all aspects. Not only must the decisions be accurate and consistent, but they must also be able to meet the expectations of fans within the stadium. We need to make more effort with a lower posture than we do now.

Reporter Choi Yong-seok [email protected]