I don't think it's soft. I don't think it's a penalty whatsoever.
I was going to caveat what I said regarding 'no penalty should be given for handball by VAR' with unless the referee wants to look at it, but I know that isn't a thing with VAR; or the referee has completely missed something. I think everyone missed the St Mirren one in real time so fair enough VAR worked properly for once.
90% of the penalty's we're seeing given, not just up here, but down south for handball to me are not penalties. These pens where players are getting balls thundered at them for 3-4 yards away are mental. A player cannot have their hands down by their side all the time when they are running and turning etc etc. I get the hands above the head as there is no real reason for that. I just think they are complicating the game for no real reason.
I suppose the best way to describe it is they are looking for penalties. You shouldn't need to 'look' for a penalty, it should be pretty clear.