Roma fan jailed for three-and-a-half years for assault of Liverpool supporter Sean Cox outside Anfield
An AS Roma ‘ultra’ has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for attacking Liverpool supporter Sean Cox before the teams’ Champions League semi-final at Anfield last April, leaving Mr Cox with catastrophic head injuries.Simone Mastrelli, 30, struck him in the head outside a pub causing Mr Cox to immediately fall to the ground and sustain a further impact to the head.
3Simone Mastrelli pleaded guilty to the assault of Sean CoxFather of three Mr Cox, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, Ireland, had a bleed on the brain and needed emergency surgery.Outside Preston Crown Court his wife Martina said: While it is pleasing to know that Mr Mastrelli will serve 3-and-a-half years, he has given Sean and our family a life sentence.Mr Cox’s daughter Shauna, 20, read a victim impact statement in court, saying: Before this brutal and vicious attack my dad was a fit and confident man; a man of integrity with a huge passion for life. He represnted everything that is good.She added: Over the past ten months we have spent all our time by dad’s bedside. During that time we have celebrated birthdays and Christmas when all we want is dad to be home.
3Sean Cox suffered catastrophic head injuries in the attackMr Cox spent months receiving specialist neurological care at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, before being transferred to a rehabilitation centre.The court was told: The reality is that he is unlikely to live independently again.Judge Mark Brown told Simone Mastrelli: You must have undermiend significantly the reputation of Italian football and its supporters…This was on any view a dreadul offence.He added: You then went into the stadium to enjoy the match, which was particularly callous given what had just happened and what you had done to Mr Cox.
3The Liverpool players held a banner in support of Cox following their victory over Roma in the Champions League semi-finalProsecutor Keith Sutton revealed how Mastrelli attempted to evade justice.The Roma fan was already wearing a balaclava when he arrived at Liverpool Lime St station on the day of the match, he told the court.Having traveled to Anfield with a group of 50-60 ‘ultras’ wearing similar dark clothing Mr Mastrelli attacked Sean Cox.Mr Sutton added: As Sean Cox remained motionless on the floor Mr Mastrelli immediately turned and moved away, checked his face covering was in place and moved into the crowd of AS Roma fans.It took a considerable amount of work for police to identify him, the court was told. Mr Mastrelli left the UK the day after the match and was arrested in Italy in October 2018, eventually being extradited on 31 January 2019 to face charges.Merseyside Police Detective Inspector Paul Speight told talkSPORT: No amount of planning can legislate for groups of what can only be described as thugs who came to Liverpool intent on casusing violence.Roma fan Daniele Sciusco was jailed for violent disorder in August 2018 for his part in the trouble outside Anfield.Filippo Lombardi was also jailed after admitting violent disorder. Neither was found to have struck Mr Cox.Liverpool FC legends are to play a match in Dublin with all proceeds to be donated to Sean Cox’s rehabilitation, the court heard.
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