Updated 16:00
An Italian man has been extradited to the UK in connection with an assault on Irishman Sean Cox outside Anfield last year.
Mr Cox, from Dunboyne in County Meath, was seriously injured in an attack before Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against AS Roma last April.
He has now spent several months at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.
In a statement this morning, Merseyside Police said 30-year-old Simone Mastrelli has been charged.
He was extradited from Rome to the UK after being arrested in the Italian capital last year on foot of a European Arrest Warrant.
Mr Mastrelli faces charges of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Sean Cox, and threatening unlawful violence that left a person fearing for their personal safety.
He appeared in court in Liverpool this afternoon, speaking only to confirm his name and address and gave no indication of his plea.
The accused was remanded in custody and is due before Liverpool Crown Court on March 1st.
Paul Doward, reporter with Radio City in Liverpool, was in court for today's hearing, and he detailed the allegations.
He explained: "The prosecution... they allege that Mr Mastrelli was the man that punched Sean Cox in the face, knocking him unconscious.
"The court also heard that the defendant watched the game after this particular incident, and took numerous steps then to avoid identification - swapping clothes with some of the other people in his group, swapping his shoes and swapping his hat before leaving back for Rome the next today."
Anfield violence
Last October, 21-year-old Filippo Lombardi was sentenced to three years in prison for engaging in violent disorder ahead of the crunch Champions League match.
He was found not guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Daniele Sciusco was jailed for two-and-a-half years in late August after pleading guilty to violent disorder ahead of the game.
It is believed that he was not directly involved in the incident that led to Mr Cox's injuries.
Mr Cox suffered catastrophic injuries after being knocked unconscious in an unprovoked attack ahead of the Champions League tie.
His local GAA club in Dunboyne said he will require “ongoing and intensive long term care and support” once the rehabilitation programme is finished.
Additional reporting by Stephen McNeice
