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3rd April 2024
02:08pm BST
An Irish basketball match has been ordered to be replayed after an appeal over the final second of the game.
On March 23, Limerick Sport Eagles beat Portlaoise Panthers 80-78 in the division one quarter finals fixture in St Mary’s Hall in Portlaoise.
However controversy lit up the dying embers of the game when the Eagle’s winning points came from free throws awarded on the final buzzer.
The Panthers appealed that the free throws shouldn’t have been awarded as the buzzer had sounded before the foul was called.
They also argued that they should have been allowed line back up after the points were scored.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 2, Basketball Ireland said that the National Appeals Committee had ruled that the game should be replayed in it’s entirety, but said that it was granted in error as “on-court refereeing decisions cannot be overturned.”
While the refereeing decisions were technically correct, the error came in the fact a fraction of a second was not allowed for the team to line back up after the points.
The statement continued, “The NLC has ruled that the fixture will not be replayed in full, however the remaining 0.3 seconds of the quarter-final is to be played this week and Basketball Ireland will be in liaison with the clubs to determine when.”
The decision was made by the NLC in order to “ensure the integrity of the league.”
Basketball Ireland finished their statement by saying they will be making no further comment on the matter.
Former Kerry footballer and basketball player Kieran Donaghy said the decision was “as clear as mud”.
In a post on Twitter/X, Donaghy said it was “ridiculous to suggest that two teams would need to show up for 0.3 seconds to be played out.”
Others reposted the statement calling it a “farce.”
The final points from the game will still stand, so when the final fractions of a second will replay, the Eagles will lead 80-78.
The winners of the tie will face MOY Tolka Rovers in the semi-finals of the second tier competition.
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