Everton's Seamus Coleman insists rivalries ‘go out the window’ after donating to injured Liverpool fan Sean Cox
The Republic of Ireland international donated £4,300 to his countryman, who remains in hospital after being attacked
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Your support makes all the difference.Everton defender Seamus Coleman admits football rivalries had to be put to one side when it came to supporting injured Liverpool fan Sean Cox.
The Republic of Ireland full-back made a 5,000 euro (£4,300) donation to a fundraising effort for his fellow Irishman, 53, who is still receiving treatment in hospital after being attacked by Roma supporters before the Champions League semi-final at Anfield in April.
Coleman was alerted to the initiative by coverage of a similar donation by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and he was keen to show solidarity across city battle lines.
“We have to be together,” he insisted. “I think football is great for sticking together.
“Rivalries go out the window with stuff like that; you don't see a crest or a jersey, you see a man who came to support his team and unfortunately it didn't end too well for him that night.
“Thankfully there is a fundraising page and I don't know the ins and outs of how he is but hopefully they can raise some money for him.
“I saw on social media the Liverpool manager had donated some money and saw there was a link to a GoFundMe page.
“I wanted to put my name to it because sometimes that raises more publicity. That's what the Liverpool manager did.
“You think ‘Do you put your name towards it or not?’ because you might get people saying, ‘He might have put more money in,’ or whatever.
“It's not about Liverpool and Everton, this is about a man who unfortunately was part of something he did not intend to be.
“I've had people in the street, Liverpool fans, stop me and say, 'Thanks very much'.”
Last month Filippo Lombardi, a 21-year-old Roma fan, was sentenced to three years in prison for violent disorder but found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.
Supporters held a bucket collection at Anfield prior to Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City that raised £28,725 - an amount which was then matched by the LFC Foundation.
Cox spent five weeks at a specialist neurological centre in Liverpool following the attack, and is receiving ongoing treatment in Republic of Ireland. Another man has been arrested in Rome in connection with the incident and is awaiting extradition.
The main fundraising page for Cox, http://www.gofundme.com/SupportSeanCox, has so far raised over £190,000.
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