FA bans solid perimeter walls around pitches after Vigar death

On 7 August 2026 the Football Association announced a ban on solid perimeter walls around pitches after a safety review prompted by the death of former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar at Wingate and Finchley FC in September 2025.

The decision follows an independent safety review. The review was carried out ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Billy Vigar joined Arsenal's academy as a 14-year-old. The 21-year-old died after sustaining a "significant brain injury" while playing for Chichester City in September 2025. It is thought the injury was caused when he collided with a concrete wall.

The review, conducted by independent health and safety experts for the 2026-27 season, said it "no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches across the National League system for men [steps 1-6], and the Women's National League [tiers 3-4]".

The FA said: "Any existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable, or covered with suitable protection if they cannot be removed for structural reasons. "We have informed the clubs at this level that will be required to take action as a result of these changes."

After Vigar's death, a petition calling for a ban on brick walls around football pitches has received more than 4,000 signatures. The government and the Professional Footballers' Association wrote to the FA, Premier League, English Football League and National League in June 2023, calling on them to adopt a more proactive approach to player safety in this area. That came after Bath City's Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with a concrete advertising hoarding during a match in November 2022.

Matches at affected grounds can continue as long as clubs assess "the safety of their pitch perimeter barriers on an ongoing basis" and plan to make changes "within a reasonable timeframe". The FA and Premier League will provide funding to facilitate the changes.