Now feeling very wobbly—he had never in his years playing seen that degree of carnage—and lightheaded, Hassan was eager to return to the ground. He moved hastily towards Abbas al-Benali, who landed nearby, his ears ringing as he did so.

"Someone's died, bludger right to the face," he hissed to his friend quickly in Arabic, not knowing if the nearby British player was supposed to know. Hassan himself probably wasn't, at least not yet, but the seeker had to let either the news at or his breakfast.