Pass was forward by a mile, all this crap about momentum and point of release being backwards is over thinking it.
Linesman was right in line of the play yet we take a camera angle behind the play over his perfect view of the pass.(i feel sorry for linesman they can't win) Camera is behind the play making the point of release look backward, as the camera catches up with the play you see the true direction of the pass---it's not momentum that is floating the ball almost a full metre forward over a short distance.
Remember Tom is nowhere near full running speed, not even running a straight line to increase the chances of momentum taking the ball forward over a greater distance in the same direction---- a ball can float forward yes but not by that much over a short distance due to the laws of physics.
Slow the play down and you see where Tom released the ball before contact behind the 20m display number and the pass is caught almost on the line of the 20m----will take the linesmans view over camera angles and an estimation over how much physics has a play any day of the week.