Footballer charged with drink-driving after crash

Norwich defender Shane Duffy is due in court in July

A Norwich City footballer has been charged with driving while unfit through drink following a two-vehicle crash, police said.

Shane Duffy, 32, was arrested in Hethersett, near Norwich, late on Monday.

He is due to appear before magistrates in Norwich in July.

Norwich City Football Club said it was "aware of an incident involving one of its first team players".

A spokesperson for Norfolk Police said: "Police were called to Queen's Road, Hethersett, 21:05, on Monday 6 May, following reports of a two-vehicle collision.

"Emergency services attended the scene and a man, aged in his 30s, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. He was taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

"No-one was injured."

Police were called to Queen's Road in Hethersett, near Norwich, on Monday

The spokesperson said Mr Duffy, of Norwich Common, Wymondham, was "charged with driving whilst unfit through drink, having provided an evidential breath sample of 102mcg".

The legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.

Mr Duffy is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates' Court on 2 July.

A Norwich City spokesman said: "Norwich City Football Club is aware of an incident involving one of its first team players.

"The club is in the process of considering the matter internally in accordance with its own disciplinary procedure."

Norwich face Leeds United in the Championship play-off semi-finals on Sunday, with the first leg at Carrow Road.

Mr Duffy moved to the Norfolk club in 2023 after his contract at Fulham expired.

Born in Derry, he played both Gaelic football and association football in his youth before joining Everton as a "first-year scholar" in 2008, according to the Norwich City website.

The defender spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Championship side Yeovil Town, before departing Everton on a permanent basis to sign for Blackburn Rovers.

After making 63 appearances in the Championship for the Ewood Park club, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion for £4m in 2016.

He also had loan spells at Celtic and Burnley.