Rule 12
HANDLING THE BALL
Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with the hand or arm.
The following must be considered:
a) the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)
b) the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)
c) the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an offence
1. no one, surely, is claiming it was deliberate (or at least no one is claiming there is sufficient evidence to suggest intent)
2. It was more ball to hand than hand to ball
3. There was about a metres distance; furthermore, the ball ricocheted off his chest
I dont think there was a conspiracy or bribery, I just think the ref saw it hit his arm, bottled it, went to VAR and VAR couldnt 100% determine if it was hand to ball or ball to hand, and therefore couldnt overrule the refs initial, incorrect, call of handball.
Essentially, we got screwed by a shit referee, no more no less to it than that