What gets a player thrown out of a basketball game?
A · Advanced · Technical, disruptive, flagrant and disqualifying fouls · 6 of 9A disqualifying foul is any flagrant unsporting act, such as violence against an opponent or a referee. The person leaves at once for the dressing room and the other team gets 2 free throws and the ball. Substitutes who leave the bench area during a fight are disqualified too.
How it works
- It can be given to a player, substitute, coach, excluded player or other member of the team's delegation.
- The person must go to the dressing room and stay there, or leave the building.
- Free throws: 2 if the fouled player was not shooting or the foul involved no contact; the basket plus 1, or 2 or 3, if the player was shooting.
- Contact foul: the fouled player shoots. Non-contact foul: any player the head coach chooses.
- Then a throw-in for that team from the throw-in line in its frontcourt.
- A disqualified head coach is replaced by the first assistant coach, or by the captain if there is none.
Fighting:
- Substitutes, excluded players and delegation members who leave the team bench area during a fight, or a situation that may lead to one, are disqualified.
- Only the head coach and first assistant coach may leave the bench area, and only to help the referees restore order.
- However many people are disqualified for leaving the bench, one technical foul is charged to the head coach.
- If people from both benches are disqualified and no other penalties remain, play resumes as after a double foul.
Tricky cases
A substitute ran on to pull a teammate away from a fight. Are they disqualified?
Yes. Leaving the bench area during a fight is enough, whatever the intention. Only the head coach and first assistant coach may come on to help.
What is the difference between a flagrant and a disqualifying foul?
A flagrant foul keeps the player in the game unless it is their second. A disqualifying foul removes them at once.
Is the player banned from later games?
That is not in the playing rules. The crew chief reports the incident, and the organising body of the competition decides any further sanction.
Why the rule exists
Some acts have no place in the game at any price. The bench rule stops a scuffle between two players becoming a brawl between two squads.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIBA rules | As above | A39; A40 |
| Suspensions after the game | Set by each competition | Not covered |
From the rule book
FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 39, 40 and 41.6, valid from 1 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIBA Official Basketball Rules (PDF).