foul or fair

Question
The batter hits a weak popup with a lot of backspin.  The catcher gets up to catch it but is unable to get to the ball in time.  The ball pops up about 10 feet down the 1st base line, hits the ground in fair territory then one-hops in the air and over foul territory where the catcher catches the ball, the air, in foul territory.  Both he and the ball are clearly (about 2 feet) in foul ground.  Is the ball foul or fair?  

The umpire made no immediate call, so the catcher throws to 2nd to get the runner from 1st, who then throws to 1st to get the batter; double play.

The umpire said that the ball hit in fair territory and never "hit the ground in foul territory", so said it was a fair ball.

My understanding is that (irregardless of where the catcher was), since the ball was first touched, before 1st base, in (over) foul territory, it should be a foul ball.  

To be clear, the umpire said it isn't a judgement call of where the ball is.  If he had told me that in his judgement, the ball was over FAIR territory where the catcher touched it (even though standing he might be standing in foul territory), then I would not argue a judgement call.  But, he said it doesn't matter where the ball is, the fact that it hit fair and then did not hit the GROUND in foul territory, where the catcher clear touched the ball, it is fair, not foul.

If this is a fair ball, please help me understand.

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Noel,

In umpiring 101 we learn that between home and 1st or 3rd the batted ball is fair or foul based on where THE BALL is when 1st touched (or it settles).

"The umpire said that the ball hit in fair territory and never "hit the ground in foul territory", so said it was a fair ball."  This would not be correct.....at all!

"My understanding is that (irregardless of where the catcher was), since the ball was first touched, before 1st base, in (over) foul territory, it should be a foul ball."  this would be very correct.

Based on the umpire's statement this is a mis-application of the playing rules and the "P" word could have been used.

Mark