What should a referee do if a player deliberately handles the ball?

When a player deliberately handles the ball, the appropriate course of action for a referee is to award a free kick to the opposing team. Handling the ball is considered an infringement of the Laws of the Game, specifically Law 12, which addresses fouls and misconduct. This law stipulates that if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, it constitutes a foul.

The awarding of a free kick serves to penalize the offending player while also allowing the opposing team an opportunity to take possession and potentially create a scoring chance from that set piece. This decision is critical as it upholds the flow of the game and reinforces the importance of fair play.

Options that suggest ignoring the violation or merely giving a warning do not align with the regulations. Such actions would undermine the enforcement of the game's rules and fail to address the penalty that should be applied for a deliberate handball. Showing a yellow card is reserved for more serious offenses, and while persistent infringement might lead to that, it is not the immediate or standard response to a deliberate handling violation.