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2019 Qatar To Relax Seán Cox Takes Break From Treatment To
5th, Watch Reds Be Crowned As European Champions
of
As
the
city
June Alcohol Rules For sixth Champions
Liverpool celebrates a
| League triumph for
EXAMINER Club World Cup lifelong Liverpool fan
Jurgen Klopp’s men,
Seán Cox sent his
heartfelt congratulations to the club.
IRISH injuries in an unprovoked attack before last year’s Champions
The 54-year-old Meath man, who suffered life-changing
League semi-final at Anfield, was discharged from the National
Rehabilitation Hospital to his home in Dunboyne for the night
to watch his beloved club beat Spurs 2-0 in the final.
Sean was surrounded by his family and friends, including his
wife Martina and their three children, to see his the Reds lift the
trophy in Madrid.
An overjoyed Seán, who has been in rehab for the past nine
months and will be discharged later this month, joined his fami-
ly in an emotional rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” after
their victory and returned to hospital elated.
Seán’s wife Martina Cox said: “On Seán’s behalf, I want to
offer our heartfelt congratulations to Liverpool Football Club on
winning the Champions League.
"The club and its fans have taken Seán, our family and I, into
their hearts since Seán’s attack last year. Nobody could be hap-
pier than the Cox family for Jurgen Klopp, his players and the
iverpool fans have been enjoy the tournament. The competition took place
assured they will be “I’ll give you the full opera- from December 12-22, and a wonderful Liverpool fans.”
Lallowed to have a drink if tional details later but I can say similar schedule would have Seán watched the game with us at home, proudly wearing a
they head to Qatar to watch it will be a great learning this year’s final finishing on signed Liverpool jersey sent to him by the club’s CEO Peter
the Reds try to win the Club opportunity for us, too.” Saturday, December 21. Moore last week.
World Cup in December. Liverpool earned the right The next two editions in “He was overjoyed when the final whistle blew and
The ruling council of foot- to compete in this year’s tour- Qatar will be the last before Liverpool were crowned champions.”
ball’s world governing body nament by beating Spurs in FIFA revamps the competition Seán will travel to the UK this summer to begin the next stage
FIFA met in Paris on Monday the Champions League final in in 2021 by expanding it to 24 in his rehabilitation, focused on developing his speech, mobility
and approved the plan to stage Madrid on Saturday. teams and holding it every and cognitive functions. C
the next two editions of the As per the recent editions, fourth summer in the slot cur-
tournament in the Gulf state. Jurgen Klopp’s men will be rently held by the World Cup Liverpool Defeat Spurs In Madrid
With Qatar hosting the competing for the title against warm-up event, the Liverpool’s excellent season came to an unforgettable conclu-
2022 World Cup in November the champions of world foot- Confederations Cup. sion as Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi fired Jurgen Klopp’s
and December that year, it ball’s other five confederations It had been reported in men to Champions League glory against Tottenham.
represents the perfect chance and the national champions some quarters FIFA was not Thousands descended on Madrid for a legacy-defining
for organisers to test their new from the host country. going to bother with the Club encounter at the end of a scarcely-believable continental cam-
stadiums in 2019 and 2020 at So far, the other qualifiers World Cup before relaunching paign, with both sides narrowly making it through the group
stage and then completing jaw-dropping semi-final wins.
the same time of year. are Mexico’s Monterey, it in 2021, but that was never But only one could emerge triumphant at the Wanda
It will also be a chance for Tunisia’s Esperance and the case. Metropolitano and Liverpool would be crowned champions of
the Muslim country to learn Hienghene Sport, the Oceania The hold-up in naming a Europe for a sixth time as Salah’s early spot-kick was followed by
how to deal with thousands of champions from New host was caused by waiting to a strike from semi-final hero in a 2-0 win.
thirsty western football fans, Caledonia. The Asian and ensure Qatar would have two Mauricio Pochettino’s players dropped to the deck as the red
and vice-versa. South American champions finished stadiums for this hordes went wild at full-time as Klopp ended his cup final
Speaking to reporters in will be decided in November. year’s tournament, as the hoodoo to win his first trophy as manager of the club and ease
Paris, the chairman of Qatar The current Qatari champi- already renovated Khalifa the hurt of missing out on the Premier League title.
2022’s organising committee ons are Al Sadd, whose man- International Stadium in Doha Champions League glory also helped put last year’s final loss
Hassan Al Thawadi said: ager is former Barcelona and is being used for the World in Kiev behind them.
Then, Salah left the field in tears after a clash with Real
“We’re looking forward to Spain star Xavi, who recently Athletics Championships in Madrid’s Sergio Ramos resulted in a shoulder injury. This time
hosting the World Cup in took up the post. September and will not be his early spot-kick set Liverpool on course for glory.
2022. As European champions, ready for football in And while this all-English final was not a classic due to a mix-
“Now we’ve got the Club Liverpool would enter at the December. ture of the heat, tension and the teams’ three-week breaks,
World Cups in 2019 and 2020, semi-final stage. The Reds lost Confirmation this year’s Liverpool fans will not care after breaking Tottenham hearts in
so it’s exciting times for us, 1-0 to South American cham- Club World Cup is on means what was their first European Cup final.
and there’s no doubt the Club pions Sao Paulo in Yokohama Liverpool will get the chance Pochettino will be frustrated his side were not able to pro-
World Cup will be an impor- in the 2005 final, their only to add three more pieces of sil- duce more, although Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was
tant test event.” previous appearance in the verware before the year is out. in fine form.
Asked if fans will be competition in its current They face Premier League Returning star Harry Kane failed to make an impact, where-
allowed to drink alcohol in the guise. winners Manchester City in the as Origi once again proved an unlikely Champions League hero
dry state, Al Thawadi said: Real Madrid won last year’s Community Shield at Wembley for the Anfield team.
“We’ve answered that ques- Club World Cup in the United in early August and Europa Almost sold last summer, his brace in the semi-final win
tion many times but yes, Arab Emirates, beating the League winners Chelsea in the against Barcelona was followed by a superbly-taken strike off the
everyone will be welcome, host nation’s Al Ain in the European Super Cup in Istanbul bench in Madrid to seal the trophy for Liverpool as Spurs fell
everybody will be able to final. on August 14. C short. C