Hifi’s Buzzer-Beater Stuns Antarès
Paris Basketball secured a thrilling 103-101 victory over Le Mans during the second round of the Betclic ÉLITE championship, thanks to a dramatic, game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer by guard Nadir Hifi on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Hifi finished the contest at Antarès with 33 points and 9 assists, silencing the home crowd with his decisive shot from the right corner.
However, the spectacular conclusion immediately triggered widespread debate regarding the legality of the final sequence, specifically whether the French international committed a traveling violation before releasing the ball.
Refereeing Official Breaks Down the Final Play
Eddie Viator, director of high-level refereeing for the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) and a former international referee, addressed the controversy by breaking down the mechanics of the play for L’Équipe. According to Viator, the initial phase of Hifi’s drive complied fully with basketball rules. After taking his final dribble, the former Le Portel guard utilized the FIBA-regulated “zero step” followed by two legal steps before executing a pump fake that lifted two Le Mans defenders off their feet.
“The movement is legal and the two players in the air can no longer bother him,” Viator stated regarding the first part of the sequence.
The Pivot Foot Controversy
The officiating debate centers on the subsequent footwork. After drawing defenders Melvin Ajinça and Léopold Delaunay into the air with his shot fake, Hifi slightly adjusted his left foot—which served as his pivot foot—before launching his shot. Viator confirmed that this final adjustment constituted an illegal movement under the rules.
“He moves it illegally,” Viator told the sports daily, while immediately adding a crucial nuance: “But that is not what makes him beat his defenders.”
Viator explained that the minor foot adjustment did not grant Hifi his advantage, as Ajinça and Delaunay had already been neutralized by the initial pump fake. The director of refereeing noted that calling such marginal adjustments strictly on every possession would result in an excessive number of whistles during a typical match.
Limitations of Instant Replay
Following the final buzzer, the officiating crew utilized instant replay technology, but under league regulations, the review was limited exclusively to checking the game clock and the temporal validity of the shot. Viator clarified that a potential traveling violation falls outside the permitted criteria for video review.
“Traveling is not among the grounds for video review,” Viator noted.
Consequently, the referees had no procedural mechanism to inspect or overturn the basket for a travel after the fact, allowing Paris to preserve its 103-101 triumph. Le Mans head coach Guillaume VIZADE acknowledged the final outcome on social media, writing that the ending was cruel but wishing the capital club well for the remainder of the campaign.
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