The Football Association has officially prohibited the use of solid perimeter walls surrounding football pitches. This decision follows a comprehensive safety investigation prompted by the fatal accident involving former Arsenal youth prospect Billy Vigar. The 21-year-old athlete passed away due to a severe brain injury sustained while competing for Chichester City at Wingate and Finchley FC in September 2025, an incident believed to be caused by an impact with a concrete barrier.
Independent experts conducted a safety review for the 2026-27 season, leading to the new regulation. Solid barriers constructed from brick, concrete, or breeze blocks are now forbidden throughout the National League system for men, spanning steps 1 to 6, as well as the third and fourth tiers of the Women’s National League. The FA has mandated that these structures be removed as soon as possible, or alternatively, fitted with appropriate protective padding if structural limitations prevent their removal.
Clubs impacted by this ruling are permitted to continue hosting matches provided they conduct consistent safety assessments of their perimeter barriers and establish clear timelines for implementation. Financial support for these adjustments will be supplied by both the FA and the Premier League. This policy change arrives after significant public pressure, including a petition signed by over 4,000 individuals, alongside interventions from the government and the Professional Footballers’ Association. The push for reform also draws from the 2022 incident involving Bath City player Alex Fletcher, who sustained a fractured skull after hitting a concrete advertising hoarding.
