Two Italians in court over attack as Irish Liverpool fan fights for life
: Two Italian men have been charged in connection with an attack on an Irish man before Liverpool's Champions League match with Roma, Merseyside Police said.
Liverpool supporter Sean Cox, a 53-year-old father of three from Dunboyne, Co Meath, suffered serious head injuries after being assaulted outside Anfield stadium on Tuesday.
In a statement, the force said: "We can confirm that detectives have charged two Italian men following an incident in Anfield on Tuesday, 24 April in which a 53-year-old man was seriously injured.
"20-year-old Filippo Lombardi was charged with violent disorder and wounding/inflict grievous bodily harm.
"29-year-old Daniele Sciusco was charged with violent disorder.
"Both men have been kept in custody to appear at South Sefton Magistrates Court this morning, Thursday 26 April.
"The victim remains in hospital in a critical condition at Walton Neurological Centre."
Sporadic trouble broke out in the city centre before the game, and as more than 50,000 fans descended on Anfield, including around 5,000 fans from Italy.
Fighting erupted near The Albert pub close to the ground shortly before kick-off, where it is believed Mr Cox was hit with a belt and fell to the ground.
Police made nine arrests before and after the game, for offences including affray, assault, possession of offensive weapons, possession of a controlled drug, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.
A friend of Mr Cox, Damien O'Reilly, a councillor in Co Meath, described him as a role model and cornerstone of the community and heavily involved in local GAA.
He said: "Everyone is just in shock and we are praying for a speedy recovery."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the family's medical bills and other costs.
A JustGiving page has also been set up to raise money for Mr Cox's family.
Thomas Byrne TD said: "I sincerely hope and pray that Sean Cox, a most decent man of the Dunboyne community, makes a full recovery."
Liverpool and Roma football clubs both condemned the violence and European governing body Uefa is awaiting further information before deciding its next step.
Meath father, 53, attacked at Liverpool game is 'critical'
Merseyside Police are hoping Liverpool supporters on their way to the club’s Champions League tie with Roma will come forward with footage and eyewitness accounts of an attack which left a Co Meath father in a critical condition.
The authorities yesterday made the appeal, as the wife of Sean Cox, 53, from Dunboyne, flew to England to be at his bedside at Walton Neurological Centre.
Police said two men, aged 25 and 26, from Rome, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Mr Cox suffered head injuries, having been attacked outside the Albert pub, next to Liverpool’s Anfield ground, at around 7.35pm on Tuesday.
“Witnesses report that the victim was hit with a belt and then fell to the ground,” Detective Inspector Paul Speight said. “Paramedics treated him at the scene and he was taken by ambulance to Walton Neurological Centre, where he is being treated for a head injury. His condition is currently described as critical
“The place where this incident occurred is right by the ground and was heaving with fans, making their way to the game. I would appeal to anyone who has any information, or mobile phone footage of the incident, to contact us urgently, as the information they have could be vital to our investigation.”
#LFC statement: https://t.co/uWon1zcod9 pic.twitter.com/6by8h6p99y
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 25, 2018
Jonathan Northcroft, football correspondent with The Sunday Times, witnessed the attack and said he saw a group of Italians chanting at Liverpool fans outside Anfield.
“It seemed like they wanted to make a show of doing something outside the Kop. A couple of guys shouted back and that was enough for an attack,” Mr Northcroft told Sean O’Rourke, on RTÉ Radio 1. “They just had belts in their hands. They moved in on the Liverpool fans, who were outside the Albert.
“It was pretty sudden and pretty quick and co-ordinated and horrible.
“They picked on a couple of soft targets. The poor fella that was attacked was just one of a couple of older Liverpool fans outside the Albert. It’s quite a sedate pub, really. Maybe they knew there was going to be an easy target there.
“It was over really quickly. There was a lot of police in the area, but they weren’t on the scene at all, because by the time anyone reacted, these Roma fans were running off and the guy was left in the middle of the road.
“It looked to me like they wanted to make a quick attack and get out of there.
“He was absolutely out [cold]. Lots of people around him were very concerned,” he said.
Both clubs involved in Tuesday’s match have issued statements on the attack, with Liverpool saying it is “shocked and appalled”.
“Our thoughts, in the first instance, are with the victim and his family, at this very traumatic time. We will be offering them our full support.
“Liverpool Football Club will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to establish an understanding of the facts,” it said.
“The club’s first priority is the safety of all fans attending matches.
“Supporters attending a game should never be subjected to an environment of violence or attack.”
AS Roma said it “condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the abhorrent behaviour of a small minority of travelling fans, who brought shame on the club and the vast majority of Roma’s well-behaved supporters”.
“There is no place for this type of vile behaviour in football and the club is now co-operating with Liverpool Football Club, UEFA, and the authorities.
“The club’s thoughts and prayers are with the 53-year-old Liverpool fan in hospital, and his family, at this time,” it said.
Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson, took to social media to say that the thoughts and prayers of all the players were with Mr Cox and his family.
#YNWA pic.twitter.com/J1L5qVAodo
— Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) April 25, 2018
“He came to watch a football match and support our team. The only result that matters to us now is that he recovers and can return home to be with his family and loved ones.”
