The text you're quoting:

  (NOTE: If FILEHANDLE is a variable and the next token
  is a term, it may be misinterpreted as an operator
  unless you interpose a "+" or put parentheses around
  the arguments.)

applies to the print FILEHANDLE LIST form of print. More relevant for your print statement is:

  Also be careful not to follow the print keyword with
  a left parenthesis unless you want the corresponding
  right parenthesis to terminate the arguments to the
  print--interpose a "+" or put parentheses around all
  the arguments.

Without the "+", you would have

print(split)[2], $, ;
[download]

which is a syntax error.