Which statement is true regarding penalty kicks?

The statement that penalty kicks must be kicked forward to be in play is accurate based on the Laws of the Game. When a player takes a penalty kick, the ball must be kicked forward, meaning that it must move in the direction of the goal being aimed for, rather than sideways or backwards. This requirement ensures clarity and fairness in the execution of the penalty kick, as it is designed primarily to provide an opportunity to score against the defending team.

In the case of the other options, they do not align with the rules governing penalty kicks. For instance, penalty kicks can indeed be taken in any direction after being kicked forward. Any player on the field (with the exception of the goalkeeper from the defending team) can take the penalty kick, not just the team captain. Additionally, penalty kicks can be awarded at any point during the match, not just during stoppage time, making the context of their occurrence more flexible.