Roma fan charged with ‘assaulting Liverpool supporter Sean Cox at Champion’s League clash’
Simone Mastrelli, 30, from Rome, has been extradited to the UK following the attack on dad-of-three Sean
A ROMA fan has been charged with assaulting a Liverpool FC supporter at a Champion's League clash.
Simone Mastrelli, 30, from Rome, has been extradited after being arrested on a European Arrest Warrant in Italy over the attack on Sean Cox.
He will appear at South Sefton Magistrates' Court at 2pm today charged with Section 20 assault and violent disorder.
Sean, 53, was left with catastrophic head injuries after being assaulted outside Anfield ahead of the Champions League match between Liverpool FC and AS Roma on April 24 last year.
The dad-of-three, Co Meath, Ireland, has been recovering at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire but is said to be making progress.
Wife Martina said her husband, a sales director, still has the "battle ahead" but was now eating and drinking independently after spending weeks incapacitated.
The keen golfer and runner was due to run the Dublin marathon before the attack.
A page has raised more than a million euros (£992,045) to help his family.
Well-wishes and prayers were shared after the attack with Fianna Fail councillor Damien O'Reilly saying Sean is the "cornerstone of the community".
He said: "Everyone in the area is shocked by the news. We are thinking of him and his family at this tough time.
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"We are all praying for a speedy recovery."
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson also added his thoughts and prayers, saying: "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.
"You’ll Never Walk Alone".
Roma fan Filippo Lombardi, 21, from Rome, was cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox in October, though he was jailed for three years for violent disorder.
Daniele Sciusco, 29, from Rome, admitted violent disorder ahead of the match and was jailed for two-and-a-half years in August 2018.
