It was only that late due to how long VAR check took and then actually taking the pen. Foul was committed during the official added time. And it was a pen.
To be fair he took about 5 secs to look. It was fairly obvious. As you say though he shouldn’t even have had to look. VAR could have given it.
I guess more it was a huge decision in the last minute of added time. Obvious outcome. But huge impact.