What action does a referee take to stop play when a player imitates an injury?

In situations where a player feigns an injury, the appropriate response from the referee is to restart play with an indirect free kick awarded to the opposing team. This action is taken under the guidelines of the Laws of the Game, which stipulate that if a player behaves in a manner intended to deceive by simulating an injury, it constitutes unsporting behavior.

The use of an indirect free kick specifically underscores the nature of the violation, which is not significant enough to warrant a direct free kick or penalty but still requires an official response to maintain the integrity of the game. In this case, stopping play at the moment would not be appropriate unless a legitimate concern for player safety exists, which is why checking for a legitimate injury or giving a vague warning would not properly address the violation of unsporting conduct that is occurring.