Father-of-three from Ireland is fighting for his life after allegedly being attacked by Roma fans before Champions League game

A Liverpool fan left fighting for his life after allegedly being attacked by Roma fans before a Champions League semi-final football match has been named as father-of-three Sean Cox.

Cox, a businessman from Dunboyne in County Meath, Ireland, suffered serious head injuries after being assaulted outside the Albert pub, next to the Kop end of Liverpool’s Anfield stadium, on Tuesday evening.

Merseyside police said that two men from Rome, aged 25 and 26, had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Witnesses reported that the victim fell to the ground after being hit with a belt.

Cox’s family members have flown to Liverpool to be with him at Walton Neurological Centre, where he remains in a critical condition. Friend Damien O’Reilly, a local councillor, said Cox was heavily involved in the local community. “Everyone is just in shock and we are praying for a speedy recovery,” he said.

It is understood Cox had travelled to Liverpool with his brother to watch the game. A GoFundMe page, set up to raise money for any medical bills, had raised nearly €3,000 (£2,620) by Wednesday afternoon.

Roma said in a statement it condemned in the strongest possible terms “the abhorrent behaviour of a small minority of travelling fans who brought shame on the club and the vast majority of Roma’s well-behaved supporters” after clashes outside the stadium.

The Italian club said it was cooperating with Liverpool FC, Uefa and the authorities, adding that its thoughts were with the victim’s family.

Merseyside police confirmed that nine men, aged between 20 and 43, were arrested for various offences before and after the game, in which Liverpool beat Roma 5-2.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The 53-year-old man was seriously assaulted outside the Albert pub, next to the Kop end of Liverpool’s stadium. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Ch Supt Dave Charnock said: “The vast majority of the 52,500 fans attending the game were well-behaved and went to watch a good game of football. However, a minority of fans from both Liverpool and Roma were involved in isolated pockets of disorder in the city centre and near to the ground.”

BBC footage of an altercation between fans showed men carrying belts, and one with a hammer. Journalists at the game reported seeing a group of Roma fans use a side road to enter an area where Liverpool fans were gathered, before violence broke out.

Charnock said detectives were also investigating the use of flares outside the stadium before the game. “A number of those in the crowd that had gathered to greet the Liverpool team coach were in possession of flares and work is ongoing to identify those responsible and to establish if offences have been committed,” he said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Uefa said it was “deeply shocked by the vile attack”. It added: “The perpetrators of this ignominious attack have no place in and around football and we trust they will be dealt with the utmost severity by the authorities. Uefa is waiting to receive full reports before deciding on potential disciplinary charges.”

Liverpool FC said it would offer the victim and his family its full support, and called on supporters and those who attended the game to respond to Merseyside police’s appeal for information.

On Tuesday night, there was an increased police presence around the stadium after Manchester City’s team bus had its windows smashed by bottles and cans before the quarter-final earlier this month.