What is the difference between a disruptive foul and a flagrant foul?

Both are illegal contact by a player on an opponent, and both count as team fouls (FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 37 and 38). Referees must interpret each consistently throughout the game and judge only the action.

Disruptive foul: illegal contact that does not rise to flagrant, disrupts the flow of the game and puts the opponent at a disadvantage. The criteria are:

• unnecessary contact by a defender, not legitimately attempting to play the ball, to stop the offence in transition (until the offensive player starts the act of shooting);
• unnecessary contact anywhere on the court, not legitimately attempting to play the ball, to stop the game clock or shot clock at the end of a quarter or overtime;
• illegal contact from behind or laterally on an opponent progressing to the basket with no opponent between them and the basket, who has, is attempting to gain, or has been passed the ball.

Flagrant foul: contact that violates the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play and exceeds a personal or disruptive foul. The criteria are: not a legitimate basketball play, with or without the ball; a reckless, violent or dangerous act that causes or may cause injury; or excessive, hard contact in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

Penalty for both: free throws for the fouled player (2 if not shooting; if shooting, the goal if made plus 1, or 2 or 3 if missed), then a throw-in from the throw-in line in the frontcourt opposite the scorer's table. Two flagrant fouls, or one flagrant and one category 1 technical, disqualify a player from the game.