Which of the following is a justified reason for awarding a penalty kick?

Awarding a penalty kick is specifically justified when a defender commits a foul within their own penalty area. This is because the laws of the game state that a penalty kick is awarded if a player commits a direct free kick offense, such as tripping, holding, or pushing, inside their own penalty area. The penalty kick is designed to provide a significant advantage to the attacking team, compensating for the foul being committed by the defending team in a critical area of the field.

Other situations listed do not warrant a penalty kick. For instance, if a player scores a goal, there is no foul or misconduct involved that would necessitate a penalty. Similarly, if the ball goes out of play, it indicates a stoppage in the game but does not involve any foul that would lead to a penalty kick. If a referee observes an unfair challenge outside the penalty area, it may result in a free kick but not a penalty kick, as the infraction occurred outside the designated area for such an award. Therefore, the correct circumstance for awarding a penalty kick is clearly tied to fouls committed by defenders within their penalty area.