What is the penalty for a foul committed by a player who is the last defender?

When a player commits a foul while being the last defender, it often involves an action that denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. According to the rules, this situation typically warrants a direct free kick awarded to the opposing team, along with the possibility of a straight red card for the offending player. The rationale behind this is to maintain fairness in the game—if a player uses foul means to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity, the punishment needs to reflect the severity of the infraction.

A direct free kick is awarded because the foul occurred in open play and impacted a possible goal. Additionally, the issuance of a red card serves as a deterrent against such fouls, thereby emphasizing that obstructive actions that interfere with scoring potential will have significant consequences. This approach upholds the integrity of the game by discouraging players from committing serious fouls to gain an unfair advantage.