<P> A drop - ball is not awarded to either team; rather it is used to restart play when the referee has stopped play for any reason not listed for another form of restart . Examples include when play has been stopped due to serious injury to a player, interference by an external party, or a ball becoming defective . </P> <P> In games which use video assistant referees (VAR), if a VAR review determines that play should not have been stopped, such as when a decision to award a penalty is reversed, play is restarted with a dropped ball at the point of the incorrect call . </P> <P> The ball is dropped by the referee at the point where the ball was when play was stopped, unless this is within a goal area in which case it is dropped on the goal area line parallel to the goal line . The ball becomes in play as soon as it touches the ground . Players must not touch the ball until it has touched the ground . If the ball leaves the field of play before it has been touched by a player (including if the ball enters either goal), the drop - ball is retaken . </P> <P> There is no restriction in the Laws of the Game as to how many players, if any, may take part in a drop - ball or where they may be positioned . A team can choose not to commit any players and thus give the ball freely to the opposition . </P>

When is the ball in play from a dropped ball