FA bans solid perimeter walls around football pitches after Billy Vigar death

The Football Association (FA) has introduced new stadium accreditation rules that prohibit solid brick, breeze‑block and concrete barriers around football pitches in the National League system (Steps 1‑6) and the Women’s National League (tiers 3‑4). The ban follows a safety review triggered by the death of former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar, who suffered a significant brain injury after colliding with a concrete wall while playing for Chichester City against Wingate & Finchley in September 2025.

Clubs affected by the changes must remove existing solid barriers or cover them with suitable protection if removal is not feasible for structural reasons. The FA and the Premier League will provide funding through the Premier League Stadium Fund to help clubs carry out the required modifications. The move comes after a petition calling for a ban on such walls gathered more than 4,000 signatures and follows earlier incidents, such as Bath City’s Alex Fletcher fracturing his skull after hitting a concrete hoarding in 2022.