If an attacking player is responsible for an offside infraction, what is the proper action taken by the referee?

When an attacking player is deemed to be in an offside position and becomes involved in active play, the referee's appropriate action is to stop the game and call an offside violation. This is in accordance with the Laws of the Game, specifically Law 11, which defines offside and outlines the conditions under which a player is considered offside.

When the referee identifies that an offside offense has occurred, stopping the game is necessary to ensure fair play and that the defending team is not unfairly disadvantaged. Following the stoppage for the offside infraction, a free kick is awarded to the defending team, allowing them to restart the play.

The other options, such as awarding a direct free kick to the defense, continuing play without interruption, or resorting to a drop ball restart, do not align with the proper protocol for an offside violation. These actions would not address the rule infringement appropriately and wouldn't uphold the principles of fair play in soccer.