If a ball is deflated during a penalty kick after striking the crossbar, what should happen next?

In the context of a penalty kick that results in the ball being deflated after striking the crossbar, the most appropriate course of action is to retake the penalty kick using a new ball. This is because the Laws of the Game dictate that if a ball becomes unplayable (including deflation) while it is in play, the game must be stopped. Since the penalty kick is an important and specific situation, the proper approach is to ensure that the kick is executed under the correct conditions, which includes using a properly inflated and approved ball.

A backup ball may indeed be available, but if the kick must be retaken, substituting it in the midst of a penalty scoring situation clarifies the need for consistency and fairness in gameplay. Continuing the game without addressing the fact that the ball is deflated would not uphold the integrity of the penalty kick, and simply awarding the kick again without resolving the ball's condition would overlook the proper procedure in the Laws of the Game. Consequently, the action that aligns with maintaining the game's rules and principles is to retake the kick with a new, compliant ball.