[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

My position (and I also taught it to new basketball officials in my basketball officiating class) is that an official should ignore fans unless one of the following happens: (1) A fan threatens a participant (game official, player, coach, or bench personnel) with violence; or (2) A fan enters the playing court/field; and either (1) or (2) happens, the game official should stop the game if necessary and notify game management of the situation and let game management. Otherwise, ignore fans no matter how stupid their behavior becomes. That said, a fan throwing an umbrella against the backstop fence in protest of an umpires decision falls under situation (1) above.

MTD, Sr.