What is the proper restart when a player is injured and the referee stops play?

When a play is halted due to a player injury and the referee has stopped the game, the appropriate way to restart play is with a dropped ball. This occurs when the referee stops the game for reasons other than a foul by either team, such as an injury sustained by a player.

The dropped ball is a neutral restart, meaning it does not favor either team and is intended to resume play fairly. The referee will drop the ball at the location where it was last in play, and players from both teams must be at least four meters away from the location of the drop until the ball is in play again.

In contrast, other restart options like an indirect free kick, penalty kick, or free kick apply in situations involving fouls or specific infractions in the game, but not in the case of an injury. Therefore, a dropped ball is the correct procedure to ensure fair play when a game is stopped for an injury.