He really didn't look convinced to me, and if anything, was on the sceptical side.
So, I thought that the ref didn't know which way to call it, and decided to give it on the basis that "VAR would check".
VAR then checked it and waved it on as it wasn't a "clear and obvious error".
And then said, hang on, he was through on goal, so there must be a red.
Which just goes to show that the referee's decision, even pending VAR review, is not a neutral thing.
Had he refused it, would VAR have asked him to reconsider?