II. THE BALL

1. After a corner-kick has been taken, the ball is caught by an outside agent on the goal-line, without any player having previously played it. Should the corner-kick be retaken or should the general principle be applied concerning the intervention of an outside agent, i.e. "a dropped ball"?

   The game shall be restarted by a "dropped ball" at the place where the ball was at the time the game was stopped, unless it was within the goal-area at that time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the goal-line at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped.

2. The ball bursts immediately after it is in play from a free-kick, penalty, throw-in etc., without therefore being played by another player. Should the restart be repeated or should the game be restarted by a "dropped ball" at the place where the ball burst?

   The situation is answered in Law II, International Board Decision 4, as follows: (4) If the ball bursts or becomes deflated during the course of a match, the game shall be stopped and restarted by dropping the new ball at the place where the first ball became defective, unless it was within the goal-area at that time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the goal-line, at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped.

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