AS Roma and their owner James Pallotta have today pledged €150,000 to the Sean Cox fund. The Irishman was left in a coma following a brutal, unprovoked attack by a Roma fan outside Anfield ahead of last April's Champions League semi-final. His wife Martina has appealed for financial support to meet extremely high medical bills, which will run into the millions of euro.
Roma officials met the Cox family in Ireland last Friday, and have now pledged the above figure along with a promise to work with the Cox family on further fundraising initiatives that will help cover ongoing costs for Sean over a multi-year period.
€100,000 of the donation has been donated through the club's Roma Cares foundation, while Pallotta has decided to make a personal donation of €50,000.
In a statement circulated to Irish media outlets, Roma Managing Director Mauro Baldissoni said that "Everyone at the club was shocked and saddened by what happened to Sean Cox outside Anfield and the huge impact it’s had on not just him but also his wife, his children and his family and friends".
Back in April we wrote to Mrs Cox to offer any help or support we could provide at a time that was right for the family. Now, having sat down on Friday with Martina and listened to the long journey Sean still has ahead of him, we wanted to make a donation that will help support Sean’s ongoing rehabilitation costs.
Mr. Pallotta added that "what happened to Sean Cox should never happen to anyone attending a football match. Our thoughts today, as they have been from day one, are with Sean, Martina and their whole family. We all hope Sean makes as full a recovery as possible".
Sean's wife Martina thanked Roma for their donation.
Our life has been turned upside down by what has happened to Sean.
There is no sign of Sean being able to return home any time soon and even with extensive specialist rehabilitation efforts, which will take years, he will require care for the rest of his life.
We are hugely appreciative of today’s donation by AS Roma and Mr Pallotta, and more particularly by committing to meaningful assistance over the coming years with the struggle Sean is facing into.
Fans who wish to contribute to the GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Sean’s medical and rehabilitation costs can make a donation via: www.gofundme.com/SupportSeanCox.
