What is the restart if a player who left the field for injury permission impedes an attacker upon reentering?

When a player reenters the field after receiving permission to leave for an injury and subsequently impedes an attacker, the correct restart is an indirect free kick for the opposing team. This is because the nature of the infraction, which occurs when the player returns, involves interfering with play inappropriately. The rules dictate that the player must adhere to proper reentry procedures to avoid such situations.

In this case, the indirect free kick reflects the severity of the offense, which does not necessitate a direct free kick or a penalty kick since there was no foul committed within the penalty area. Additionally, a drop ball is not applicable here, as it is used in different circumstances, primarily when the game needs to be restarted after a stoppage without a foul. The presence of a yellow card implies a caution for unsporting behavior but does not play a direct role in deciding the nature of the restart itself; it merely indicates that there was an infraction that warranted caution. Therefore, the situation leads to an indirect free kick being awarded to the opposing team.

Thus, the indication of a yellow card serves as an acknowledgment of the misconduct while establishing the indirect free kick as the appropriate method of restarting the game.