AB: possession is not required for cancellation if R fouls, merely touching the kick is sufficient. So we should have:
First touching is negated by two things:
1. A foul by R after
gaining possession touching the kick.
2. The acceptance of ANY penalty during the play.
RE: AB's revised play, if K accepts the penalty, then R will keep the ball after enforcement of the holding penalty under ABO (5-2-1). If K declines the penalty, R loses the right to first touching by having fouled after touching the kick (6-2-5). K would take possession 1/10 @ R26, clock on the snap.
Here's the case play from the OP:
*6.2.5 SITUATION C:
With fourth and 5 from K's 30-yard line, K9 punts the ball downfield where it is grounded and touched by K88 (first touching) at R's 30. The ball continues rolling and is picked up by R35 at R's 25-yard line. R35 is subsequently hit and fumbles at R's 28. The loose ball is recovered by K88 on the ground at R's 26. During the kick, R55 is flagged for holding.
RULING: If K accepts R's foul for holding, then it is enforced from the previous spot since post-scrimmage kick cannot apply as K is next to put the ball in play as a result of the play. If K accepts the foul, the awarded spot for illegal touching is not applied. If K declines R's foul, R will take the ball at the spot of first touching. (2-12-1; 2; 2-16-2h)
The first half of the ruling: the result of the play has K in possession, so it does not meet the criteria for PSK. In that case, the basic spot is the previous spot because it's a loose ball play, and first touching is ignored due to the accepted penalty.
The second half of the ruling: The kick ended when R gained possession, and they did not touch/muff the kick prior to gaining possession. The foul occurred during the kick. So R keeps the right to first touching because their foul occurred prior to their touching the ball (even if it was after the first touching by K).