Technical for Illegal Noisemakers

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Grail
Late in the 4th quater of an 8 point game, Team A is shooting a 2nd Free Throw when a fan of Team B pops a balloon. The crowd had been informed several times that they could not use artificial noisemakers during the game, including one warning about popping balloons.

After the shot (missed and rebounded by B), one of the officials blows the whistle, gathers his partners and heads for the scorers table. The PA announcer announces that artifical noisemakers are illegal and a Technical Foul can be assessed, as well as the person responsible being ejected. Then he announces that Technical Foul has been called and Team A will shoot 2 Free Throws. I don't recall the rule book giving the official the leeway to call a Technical in this situation.

The officials can call a T on a team's supporters-if they have already been warned(as they were above).FED casebook play 1.18(c) covers it.