A ball touching the goal-line plane, when it becomes dead is in the end zone, even though it is moving away from the nearer end line and his its foremost point in the field of play.
Tag: touching
Rule 2, Section 27 Muff
A muff is the touching of a loose ball by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession.
Rule 10, Section 2, Article 6
The following fouls by A include loss of the right to replay a down:
a. Illegally handing the ball forward.
b. Illegal forward pass.
c. Illegal touching of forward pass by an ineligible.
The Zebra Files 