Soccer Rules Practice Exam

What is the outcome if a player deliberately trips an opponent to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity in soccer?

1. Indirect free kick

2. No action taken

3. Penalty kick

4. Yellow card

The correct answer is: Penalty kick

When a player deliberately trips an opponent to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity, the game recognizes this action as a serious infringement of the rules. The appropriate outcome in this scenario is a penalty kick awarded to the opposing team. This occurs because the foul directly denies a clear and obvious scoring chance and transgresses the criteria for a penalty kick, as it takes place within the penalty area. A penalty kick is a direct free kick taken from the penalty mark, and it is only awarded when a defending player commits a foul against an attacking player in the penalty area, which includes actions like tripping. Additionally, such an action typically warrants a disciplinary action, likely a yellow card, showing the referee’s acknowledgment that the foul was deliberate and against the spirit of fair play. However, in this specific context, the awarding of a penalty kick is the foremost decision. The other options do not apply because no indirect free kick would be awarded, as this situation calls for a direct penalty kick. Similarly, no action would mean neglecting a clear foul that affects the fairness of the game, and while it may warrant a yellow card, the priority outcome is the awarding of the penalty kick itself.