Kicking foul

[Bronco]

4th and 8 on the K-25. With team K’s punt in flight, K41 is flagged for holding. R30 returns the kick for a touchdown. Is this ruling (The foul must be declined for R to keep the touchdown, otherwise, enforce PSK?

[Logical]

PSK applies to R fouls (not K).
10-4-2 Exception is for K fouls on kick.

I believe that they may accept and enforce on PAT or KO (someone correct me if incorrect).
Question is when is COP considered to have occurred (once K kicked the ball or when R recovered ball). I'm going with, in this situation, COP is considered to have occurred when K kicked.

10-4-2
Exception: The basic spot may, at the option of the offended team, be the succeeding spot for fouls by K during a free or scrimmage kick down (other than kick catch interference) when K will not be next to put the ball in play.
8-2-3
If an opponent of the scoring team commits a foul (other than unsportsmanslike conduct or a nonplayer foul) during a down in which a touchdown is scored and there was a change of possession during the down, and such foul occurs after the change of possession, the scoring team may accept the results of the play and choose enforcement of the penalty:
a. On the try, or
b. On the subsequent kickoff.

[dch]

The kicking team is in team possession of the ball while the ball is loose following a kick until R secures possession of the ball or until the play is over.

[Bronco]

Not sure what the answer is to my question?

[Ump33]

"Tack-on foul" in the OP can only be enforced on the Try or previous spot.  See Case Book 10.5.3 C it involves a "tack-on foul" when R scores.

[dch]

It is not PSK because R was not the one that fouled.
It is not "carry over" because it did not happen when the team that was fouled (R) had the ball.

Therefore, refuse the penalty to keep the score.

[ncwingman]

It is not PSK because R was not the one that fouled.
It is not "carry over" because it did not happen when the team that was fouled (R) had the ball.

Therefore, refuse the penalty to keep the score.

Not true. As Ump33 pointed out, see Case Play 10.5.3 C.

An odd convergence of rules here: 8-2-3 allows for the penalty to be enforced on the try or kickoff if the foul occurred after the change of possession, which you correctly pointed out that it did NOT, therefore 8-2-3 does not apply. However, 10-4-2 Exception states that any foul by K during a scrimmage kick down may be enforced at the succeeding spot, which would be the try, and allows the touchdown to stand.

R may also enforce from the previous spot, replay 4th down, or decline the foul entirely and take the results of the play.

[dch]

Thank you ncwingman and uump33.
I have that exception underlined in my Rules Book.  Apparently it is not yet in-bedded in my brain.

[Ralph Damren]

The 10-4-3 EXCEPTION "tack-on" provision was added a few years ago to prevent potential cheap-shots by K from going unpunished. Example ,prior to "tack-on" :

(1)K's ball 4/10 @ K's 30;
(2) partially blocked kick is rolling at K's 35;
(3) K's big ole' Bubba lights up little R's Lefty who was watching ball roll;
CHOICE THEN : Penalty would give ball back to K @ K's 15, or decline and  take the ball @ K's 35.
CHOICE NOW : R could take BOTH the ball @ penalty, getting the ball @ K's 20.

Some unintended results have surfaced, such as the OP and …..
FGA wide-right & K guilty of illegal formation = TB + 5 > R's ball @ 25.

[blandis]

10-4-2 EXCEPTION- "The basic spot may, at the option of the offended team, be the succeeding spot for fouls by K during a legal free or scrimmage kick down (other than kick catch interference) prior to the end of the kick when K will not be next to put the ball in play."

This is getting enforced on the Try if the kick is returned for a Touchdown because the Try is the Succeeding Spot.