But, sure enough, Higgins and O'Sullivan found themselves in separate halves and have duly worked through the field en route to the final. The Scot, impressed by his far-sighted friend, has offered him tickets to attend. As Geller tells it, he seized control of the moment, willing the ball to move slightly just before contact. It did and McAllister failed to score. And while non-believers would point to a freak gust of wind, Geller took the credit for himself.
Football is no stranger to such spookish behaviour.
Black magic has long been linked with results in Africa, where witch doctors often claim to have jinxed losing sides. Apparently less successful is the spiritual healing of Glenn Hoddle's side-kick Eileen Drewery, who failed to inspire England to the great heights promised in the 1998 World Cup. At Birmingham City, legend has it that then-manager Barry Fry was so concerned by a poor run of form that he asked a local gypsy about an alleged curse on the St Andrews ground. Alberto Ascari, twice Formula One world champion with Ferrari, died in a racing car accident on the same day in 1955 as his father had crashed and died 30 years previously. Chillingly, both father and son had walked out of wrecks unscathed four days before their fatal accidents.