Fair/foul balls

Question
A long fly ball is hit down either line (in this case, the first base line). The ball is going to be a foot or two foul. However, the rightfielder tries to catch it while he is still touching fair territory. The umpire rules a fair ball, stating that "He was in fair territory, so the ball is fair". I told him that it didn't matter where he is standing, but where the ball will land. He told me that I was dead wrong.
What's the correct call?    Thank you!

Answer
Good morning Dave,

A fair or foul ball is based on WHERE THE BALL IS when it is touched....NOT WHERE THE PLAYER IS!

Under definitions (which is RULE 1, in the front of the book)

A fair ball.. "a batted ball shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line...and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time the fielder touches the ball."

A foul ball is a batted ball that....E "First hits the ground or is first touched over foul territory beyond first or 3rd base."

You question doesn't tell me specifically where the ball was so I'm not going to be hard on the umpire (I would be if you told me we both agreed the ball was in foul territory.)  You talk about where it was going to land (which doesn't matter) and I'm concerned by the umpire saying "he was in fair territory, so the ball is fair", that has nothing to do with fair/foul.  

If the ball was in foul territory when first touched and the umpire based fair/foul on the postion of the defensive player that is wrong and is appealable as a misinterpretation of a playing rule.

If the ball was in fair territory when 1st touched it would be a fair ball.

Mark