FA Implements Ban on Hard Perimeter Walls Following Tragic Death of Billy Vigar
Photo by Neil Holmes via ChichesterCityFC.co.uk
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The Football Association has introduced new safety rules in response to the death of former Arsenal academy forward Billy Vigar. The regulations prohibit solid brick, breeze-block, and concrete perimeter walls surrounding pitches at many clubs across the English non-league football system.
The new guidelines come into effect starting the 2026/27 season and affect teams in levels one to six of the men’s National League System as well as tiers three and four of the Women’s National League.
Clubs are now required to remove these structures as soon as possible or to install adequate padding where removal isn’t feasible.
The FA, along with the Premier League, will assist in funding the necessary modifications.
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This decision follows Vigar’s death at the age of 21, which occurred after he sustained a severe brain injury during a match for Chichester City against Wingate & Finchley in September 2025. He passed away five days post-incident.
This tragedy has intensified discussions on player safety, which had already gained traction following Alex Fletcher‘s serious head injury from colliding with a concrete advertising board while playing for Bath City in 2022.
In 2023, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the government, and various other stakeholders had urged for stricter measures, and a petition following Vigar’s death gathered over 4,000 signatures.
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The FA’s new rules do not apply to all levels of English football; they specifically target the National League system and the identified divisions within the Women’s National League.
Clubs may continue hosting matches while evaluating their facilities and planning necessary changes, provided they conduct ongoing safety evaluations and implement required adjustments in a reasonable timeframe.
The trend is clear: unprotected solid structures adjacent to the playing field have now been recognized as an unnecessary risk to player safety in the affected categories.
Billy Vigar began his journey at Arsenal at the age of 14 and became a full-time scholar in the 2020/21 season, advancing through the academy alongside notable players like Charlie Patino, Brook Norton-Cuffy, and Omari Hutchinson.
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While he did not make his debut in the first team, he participated in the EFL Trophy and gained valuable experience during loan spells with Derby County’s under-21 squad and Eastbourne Borough.
After leaving Arsenal in 2024, Vigar joined Hastings United before moving to Chichester City in 2025, where he impressed by scoring twice in his first three league matches before the tragic event occurred.
Photo via Wolves Academy on Twitter
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Billy Vigar’s tragic death has led to a ban on hard perimeter walls at hundreds of grounds across the National League System and Women’s National League.
Photo by Neil Holmes via ChichesterCityFC.co.uk
Advertisement
The Football Association has introduced new safety rules following the death of former Arsenal academy forward Billy Vigar, banning solid brick, breeze-block and concrete perimeter walls around pitches across large parts of the English non-league game.
The new regulations apply from the 2026/27 season to clubs in levels one to six of the men’s National League System and tiers three and four of the Women’s National League.
Clubs have been instructed to remove the structures as soon as reasonably practicable or install appropriate padding where removal is not structurally possible.
The FA and the Premier League will contribute towards the cost of the required work.
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The changes follow Vigar’s death at the age of 21 after he sustained a significant brain injury during Chichester City‘s match away to Wingate & Finchley in September 2025.
Vigar died five days after the incident.
The tragedy accelerated a debate around player safety that had already gathered momentum following Alex Fletcher‘s serious head injury after colliding with a concrete advertising board while playing for Bath City in 2022.
The Professional Footballers’ Association, the government and other stakeholders had already called for stronger action in 2023, while a petition launched after Vigar’s death attracted more than 4,000 signatures.
Advertisement
The FA’s decision does not extend across every level of English football. Instead, it specifically covers the National League pyramid and the Women’s National League divisions identified in the new regulations.
Clubs will still be permitted to stage matches while assessing their grounds and planning the necessary work, provided they carry out ongoing safety assessments and complete the required changes within a reasonable timeframe.
The direction of travel is nevertheless clear, with unprotected solid structures immediately beside the playing area now regarded as an avoidable risk to player safety at those levels.
Vigar joined Arsenal on schoolboy terms at the age of 14 before becoming a full-time scholar for the 2020/21 season. The centre-forward progressed through the academy alongside Charlie Patino, Brook Norton-Cuffy and Omari Hutchinson.
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Although he did not make a first-team appearance, he featured once in the EFL Trophy and gained experience during loan spells with Derby County‘s under-21 side and Eastbourne Borough.
After leaving Arsenal in 2024, Vigar played for Hastings United before joining Chichester City in 2025, scoring twice in his first three league appearances before tragedy struck.
Photo via Wolves Academy on Twitter
-
FA ban pitchside walls after ex-Arsenal youngster’s deathThe FA has introduced a major safety rule following the death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar, banning hard perimeter walls.
-
Arsenal transfer truth emerges over Bruno Newcastle moveFresh reporting claims Bruno Guimaraes did not reject Arsenal in 2022, with the Gunners instead deciding against completing the deal.
-
Arsenal lead race for £73m strikerPio Esposito remains firmly on Arsenal’s radar, but Inter Milan’s stance means any move is likely to be anything but straightforward. Arsenal are reportedly leading the race for Francesco Pio Esposito, but completing a deal for the Inter Milan striker remains a daunting prospect despite fresh claims linking him with a move to north London.…
-
Official: Arsenal sign Bruno Guimaraes from NewcastleArsenal have confirmed the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, finally landing a midfielder they first targeted before his move to Lyon.
-
Arsenal target faces £60m transfer hurdle
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