Birmingham City striker Marvin Ducksch has been fined over £16,000 and banned from driving for 14 months after causing a three-car collision while over the drink-drive limit.
The 32-year-old Germany international pleaded guilty at Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court to driving with excess alcohol. He recorded 53 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, well above the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
The crash occurred on the A3400 near Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire at approximately 10:30 PM on Easter Monday. This happened just hours after Ducksch had appeared as a substitute in Birmingham's 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town.
One of the female drivers involved suffered a nosebleed and injuries to her forehead and thumb. Ducksch must pay £1,000 compensation to each of the two victims, bringing his total penalty to £20,240.
Bench chairman John Kiely warned the footballer: "You can consider yourself lucky first of all that you weren't killed and secondly that the other drivers weren't killed. That's how serious this matter is."
Defence solicitor Julia Morgan told the court that Ducksch had also been penalised by Birmingham City, being fined and banned from playing several matches. She described him as having "impeccable character" despite this incident.
Ducksch, who lives in Solihull and previously played for Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund, can pay the fine in monthly instalments of £2,000.
