What happens if a player commits a foul during a penalty kick?

When a player commits a foul during a penalty kick, the appropriate course of action is to automatically retake the kick if it is determined that the foul disrupted the execution of the penalty. This could occur if, for example, an encroachment happens before the kick is actually taken or an infraction occurs that's relevant to the kick itself.

In this scenario, the rationale behind retaking the penalty kick hinges on maintaining the fairness and integrity of the game; the goal-scoring opportunity that the penalty presents should not be undermined by a foul committed during that specific kick.

The other options would not properly address the situation at hand. A decision by the referee regarding whether a foul occurred does not specifically clarify the consequences tied to a penalty kick scenario. Cautioning only the player does not align with the rules as it does not address the penalty kick's outcome. Similarly, resuming the game with an indirect free kick would not apply here, since a penalty kick is a direct opportunity to score and should not default to an indirect free kick unless a different kind of infraction occurs that warrants such a restart.