In what situation would a direct free kick be awarded?

A direct free kick is awarded when there is a foul or misconduct that directly impacts the physical integrity or the play of the game, such as tripping or pushing an opponent. This type of free kick allows the defending team to try and score a goal directly from the spot of the foul without any obstruction from the opposing players, which is a critical aspect of maintaining the flow and fairness of the game. Tripping and pushing are considered more serious fouls under the Laws of the Game, warranting this kind of restart, as they can lead to significant player disadvantage and safety concerns on the field.

The other options involve situations that do not warrant a direct free kick. Minor fouls typically result in an indirect free kick instead, corner kicks are awarded for different situations altogether (not fouls), and an injury timeout pertains to player welfare rather than a direct foul committed, thus making option C the only correct scenario for awarding a direct free kick.