FA bans solid perimeter walls after 21‑year‑old's fatal crash

On Friday 7 August, the English Football Fédération announced a ban on solid brick, cinder‑block or concrete walls bordering pitches for the 2026‑27 season, a rule prompted by the death of 21‑year‑old former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar after he struck a concrete barrier during a seventh‑division match.

Billy Vigar, a 21‑year‑old former Arsenal academy player, suffered a grave brain injury after colliding with a concrete wall during a seventh‑division match. He was placed in an artificial coma before being declared dead. Wingate & Finchley, the club involved, promptly demolished the wall adjacent to the pitch.

Following the tragedy, independent health‑and‑safety experts conducted a study for the Fédération anglaise de football. Their findings concluded that solid brick, cinder‑block or concrete barriers close to the playing area present an unacceptable risk.

The FA’s official communiqué, released on Friday 7 August, states: “All existing barriers in full bricks, cinder‑blocks or concrete must be removed as soon as reasonably possible, or covered with appropriate protection if removal is structurally impossible.”

The new regulation will be enforced across all men’s national leagues and the women’s national league for the 2026‑27 season, ensuring uniform safety standards throughout English football.

Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP shows the edge of the pitch at Old Trafford. The image underscores the proximity of solid structures to the playing surface that the FA now seeks to eliminate.

The announcement was published on the Premier LeagueLa website, with the headline appearing under the “La” section of the portal, reinforcing the league’s commitment to player safety.