A man has been found not guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Liverpool fan Sean Cox.
Filippo Lombardi was cleared of the attack on the 53-year-old from Co. Meath outside Anfield before the Champions League semi-final with Roma last April.
The Italian national was cleared of GBH at Preston Crown Court but found guilty on a separate charge of violent disorder and sentenced to three years.
Mr Cox, a father of three, was left with life-changing injuries following the unprovoked attack on Walton Breck Road shortly before kick-off on April 25.
Lombardi was part of a group of around 50 Roma fans wielding belts as they descended on the streets surrounding Anfield before the Liverpool clash.
In sentencing, Judge Mark Brown told the 21-year-old: “There is no doubt in my mind that your purpose was to cause a violent clash with the Liverpool fans… demonstrated vividly in film footage.
“The footage shows that you had an active role and your assertion in evidence and in your basis of plea that you were just looking for signs for away supporter sections and were suddenly confronted by Liverpool fans is, in my judgement, nonsense.”