What is the restart if a non-encroaching attacker kicks the ball in after the keeper saves a penalty kick?

When a non-encroaching attacker kicks the ball in after the goalkeeper saves a penalty kick, the correct restart is an indirect free kick for the defenders. This situation arises because the Laws of the Game stipulate that after a penalty kick is taken, if the ball remains in play and is played by an attacker before it leaves the penalty area, it can result in an infringement.

In this case, the attacker has interfered with the play after the penalty kick was taken, which is not allowed. The primary reason an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team is to restore fairness and ensure that the restart accurately reflects the violation that occurred. If the ball had been played fairly without interference, the attacking team could have resumed play under different circumstances.

The other options do not apply here, as a goal cannot be awarded if the play is deemed to have been stopped for the infringement. Additionally, a free kick for the attacking team is not appropriate since they committed an infringement. A drop ball is also not applicable in this context because the restart must reflect the specific situation and the involvement of the players.