Red card for keeper handling outside the box?

I recently had a keeper sent off in a match with a straight red card for handling the ball outside the area. Every other time I've seen this happen, both in-game and in real life, it's simply been a free kick and yellow card. Is this just a slightly more egregious offense and so worthy of a red card (there was an attacker chasing after the ball at the time, but it was to the side of the penalty area and I did have defenders tracking back, so I don't think it was necessarily a clear-cut scoring opportunity denied), or was I unfairly treated by the referee (who received a 6 rating for the match)?

For the record, I do like that referees in-game are almost as bad as they are in real life. It adds a bit of realism to the game. I'm just not sure whether this virtual referee deserves my righteous indignation or not.

I've seen keepers get sent off for it IRL, however I think it depends whether or not it was intentional or not.

If he did it purposely he would of got sent off or if he was the last player between the ball and the net.

If it's denying an obvious chance, it's a straight red IRL.