FA bans solid pitchside walls following death of Arsenal youth player
Billy Vigar died in September last year after suffering a "significant brain injury" when he collided with a concrete barrier trying to keep a ball in play
The Football Association (FA) has banned solid perimeter walls around pitches after a safety review was launched following the death of former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar.
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The striker, who was 21, died in September last year after suffering a "significant brain injury" when he collided with a concrete barrier trying to keep a ball in play during a match at Wingate and Finchley.
Following a safety review, the FA has published new pitch perimeter criteria which “no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches” for clubs competing across the National League System for men (steps 1-6) and the Women’s National League (tiers 3-4).
“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,” the FA said.
“We have informed the clubs at this level that will be required to take action as a result of these changes."
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Matches at affected grounds have been allowed to 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".
It is understood that of the approximately 900 clubs that play at the relevant levels, around 160 have been contacted regarding at least one element of their stadium which must be modified.
The FA and Premier League will provide funding to carry out the necessary work.
The Professional Footballers Association had been pushing for the safety review to take place prior to Vigar’s death, following an incident which left Bath City’s Alex Fletcher in a coma in 2022.
In June 2023, the PFA and then Sports Minister Stuart Andrew wrote to the FA, the Premier League, the EFL and the National League calling on them to proactively review pitch perimeter safety.
Following Friday’s announcement, a PFA spokesperson said: “Following the tragic death of Billy Vigar last year, we again highlighted these concerns and made clear our view that the lack of progress and leadership on this issue had been unacceptable.
“As part of working groups set up by the FA following Billy’s death, we pushed for the FA’s Stadium Accreditation criteria to be amended to ban these types of walls so that there is a clear and centralised policy for clubs to follow.
“Given that, it’s a welcome step that the FA’s regulations have now been changed to reflect that position.
“However, it will now be important for progress on the removal of such walls – and effective mitigation of risks ahead of their removal – to be properly monitored, and for clubs to be given the support they need so that these changes can happen as soon as possible. Player safety must always come first.”