FA bans solid perimeter walls following tragic death of Billy Vigar
The FA has banned solid concrete pitch perimeter walls across the National League system following the tragic death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
The Football Association (FA) has taken decisive action to ban solid perimeter walls across several tiers of the English football pyramid. This mandatory regulation change follows a rigorous safety review launched after the tragic death of 21-year-old Billy Vigar, a former member of the Arsenal academy.
Vigar passed away after sustaining a significant brain injury while playing for Chichester City against Wingate and Finchley in September 2025. The independent health and safety review, conducted ahead of the 2026-27 season, concluded that solid brick, breeze block, and concrete barriers are no longer permitted around pitches in the National League (steps 1-6) and the Women's National League (tiers 3-4).
Clubs affected by the ruling are now required to remove these hazardous structures as soon as reasonably practicable. In instances where immediate removal is not possible due to structural constraints, clubs must cover the barriers with suitable protective equipment. While the FA has mandated these changes, matches can proceed under current conditions provided that clubs demonstrate ongoing safety assessments and clear plans for infrastructure improvements.
This regulatory overhaul follows years of mounting pressure from players, fans, and government bodies. A public petition calling for the ban received over 4,000 signatures, and previous incidents—such as the 2022 injury of Bath City’s Alex Fletcher, who suffered a fractured skull after a collision with a concrete hoarding—highlighted the persistent danger posed by pitchside structures. The new rules aim to ensure that player safety is prioritized across all levels of the game.