Liverpool supporters and club foundation raise almost £60,000 for long-term care of attack victim Sean Cox
The 53-year-old father of three suffered serious head injuries and is receiving ongoing treatment in Republic of Ireland
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Your support makes all the difference.A collection by Liverpool supporters and the club’s foundation has raised almost £60,000 for Sean Cox as he continues his recovery from a vicious attack by Roma fans.
Mr Cox, a 53-year-old father of three from Co Meath in Republic of Ireland, was assaulted by Roma supporters outside Anfield prior to a Champions League semi-final clash between the clubs in April.
He sustained severe head injuries in the attack and was left unable to sit up or speak unaided, and remains in hospital. Earlier this month Filippo Lombardi, a 21-year-old Roma fan, was sentenced to three years in prison for violent disorder but found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.
Supporters held a bucket collection at Anfield prior to Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday that raised £28,725 - an amount which was then matched by the LFC Foundation.
The foundation also donated proceeds of £1,653 from the matchday fundraising lottery held at the game, taking the overall total to £59,104.
“LFC would again like to thank everyone who participated in the collection, either as collectors or donors, while club officials remain in dialogue with the Cox family regarding initiatives to support them,” said a statement from Liverpool.
Last week Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp donated 5,000 euros (£4,400) to the long-term care of Mr Cox, while Everton defender Seamus Coleman and Reading midfielder David Meyler also contributed the same amount each.
Mr Lombardi had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of violent disorder, but denied the accusation that he participated in the assault outside Anfield on 24 April.
A jury of six men and six women took almost nine hours of deliberation at Preston Crown Court to reach a majority not guilty verdict on the charge of GBH, but in sentencing Mr Lombardi the presiding judge said he did not accept the defence's claim that the 21-year-old was not there to cause trouble.
The prosecution claimed that Mr Lombardi and another man, referred to in court as N40, acted together and were jointly responsible for the injuries sustained by Mr Cox, alleging that N40 threw a punch which hit the Liverpool fan and Lombardi swung a belt at him as he fell.
Mr Cox spent five weeks at a specialist neurological centre in Liverpool following the attack, and is receiving ongoing treatment in Republic of Ireland. Another man has been arrested in Rome in connection with the incident and is awaiting extradition.
Liverpool beat Roma 5-2 in the first leg at Anfield and 7-6 on aggregate to reach the Champions League final, with the team holding up a banner in tribute to Mr Cox as they celebrated their victory on the Stadio Olympico pitch at full-time.
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