Redlambs
Creator of the Caftards comics
I explained it in the other post. Imho refs tend to give penos if there is "too much of contact" in tackle like that one. We know from the replay if there was concact of not. The ref sees tangled legs and impeded attacking player. Guess what is safer for him.
I haven't seen the other post, and I agree with you here.
It shouldn't be the case though, because nearly every tackle in the box would have a case of slight prior contact. If that firat touch took Barkley off stride, then yes it's a penalty. But it didn't, he only loses balance after the second tackle.
It's a good case study though, because there's genuine arguments for both.