If malicious contact is confirmed during a play, what is the ruling?

When malicious contact is confirmed during a play, the ruling is that the play is considered a dead ball situation. This means that when contact is deemed intentional and harmful, the umpire will halt the game to address the situation. This is important to ensure player safety and maintain the integrity of the game. Unlike other situations that may keep the ball live, malicious contact requires immediate intervention, ceasing all active play to prevent further altercations or potential injuries. Consequently, the focus shifts to assessing the incident and applying any necessary penalties or ejections as dictated by the severity of the contact and the rules governing player conduct.