Kick Your Way to Victory: 2025 Soccer Rules Practice Exam Extravaganza!

The player is penalized for handball with the award of a direct free kick to the opposing team. This situation occurs when a player deliberately handles the ball, which is considered an offense under the rules of soccer. A direct free kick means that the opposing team can take a shot directly at the goal from the spot of the infraction without any obstruction from other players, making it an impactful decision.

In the instance of a handball offense occurring within the offending player's penalty area, the opposing team is awarded a penalty kick, which is a more severe consequence and offers an opportunity for a direct shot at goal from 12 yards out. This emphasizes the importance of the handball rule, as it can significantly affect the outcome of a match depending on the location and circumstances of the offense.

The options involving a goal kick or a warning do not apply in this context since those responses do not appropriately address the ramifications of a handball infraction, where the team's opportunity for an advantage is given instead to the opposing team through a direct free kick.