What is the signal for a penalty kick?

The signal for a penalty kick involves the referee pointing to the penalty spot. This action clearly indicates to all players, coaches, and spectators that a penalty kick has been awarded due to a foul committed by the defending team inside their own penalty area. The point to the penalty spot specifically directs attention to where the kick will take place, ensuring that everyone understands the decision and can prepare accordingly.

In this context, other options don't signify the award of a penalty kick. For instance, raising both arms is typically used to signal a goal, blowing the whistle twice does not correlate with indicating a penalty kick, and waving the flag horizontally by an assistant referee often signals offside or some other stoppage, but not necessarily a penalty kick. Thus, the correct gesture for signifying a penalty kick is the referee pointing directly at the spot from where the kick will be taken.