The FA have released a statement following the tragic death of former Arsenal academy star Billy Vigar after he suffered a ‘significant brain injury’ during a match.
Vigar was placed in an induced coma having suffered the injury while playing for Chichester City in a match at Wingate and Finchley in the Isthmian League Premier Division last Saturday.
Reports suggested Vigar collided with a pitchside concrete wall while trying to keep the ball in play, with the match subsequently abandoned.
After being placed in a coma, Vigar was operated on by doctors in a desperate bid to save his life on Tuesday, but ‘the injury proved too much for him’, his devastated family said.
Several fans have since urged footballing authorities to ban concrete walls around pitches in a bid to improve the safety of players. A petition for ‘Vigar’s Law’, which would implement such a ban, has already garnered more than 6,000 signatures at the time of writing.
And, commenting on Vigar’s passing and those calls, the FA announced that they would conduct a review into the use of concrete walls around pitches.
The FA have released a statement following the tragic death of former Arsenal academy star Billy Vigar after he suffered a ‘significant brain injury’ during a match
Vigar died at the age of just 21 on Thursday after colliding into a concrete hoarding last week
‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Vigar,’ the FA’s statement began.
‘Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, loved ones, and everyone at Chichester City FC, and tributes will be paid to Billy at National League System and Emirates FA Cup games this weekend.
‘Whilst the health and safety of participants and spectators at the National League System level is the responsibility of the clubs and their local authorities, we will now conduct an immediate review, working with Leagues, Clubs and relevant stakeholders across the game, that will focus on the safety of perimeter walls and boundaries around pitches in the National League System.
‘This will include looking at ways we can assist National League System clubs to identify and implement additional measures at their stadiums that they determine will help to mitigate any potential safety risks.’
Since Vigar’s passing, several figures from across the footballing world have united and called for improvements to the safety of stadiums and pitches.
Dorking Wanderers manager and YouTube personality Mark White was one, describing some pitches in England as ‘lethal’.
‘All clubs need the FA to instruct an immediate enquiry into pitch surrounds,’ he posted on the Dorking X account on Thursday.
‘Many are dangerous and players always have to be cautious given the proximity from the pitch. But some simply do not move and are lethal. These need removing immediately – MW.’
Vigar, who was a forward, was part of Arsenal’s Under-21s side as recently as last year
A host of football figures called for more to be done to protect players in the wake of Vigar’s passing. Dorking Wanderers boss Mark White joined those calls on Thursday evening
He took to Dorking’s X account, describing some pitches in England as ‘lethal’
Concerns about the safety of pitches were however raised and ‘swept under the carpet’ more than two years ago when Bath City star Jack Fletcher narrowly avoided dying in a similar incident, it has been claimed.
The 26-year-old suffered a serious head injury after crashing into concrete advertising hoardings during a National League South game in November 2022.
He needed emergency surgery and was placed in a coma but luckily survived.
Fletcher returned to football some 10 months later after learning to walk again. He however ultimately retired from the game last year at the age of just 25 because he ‘didn’t feel like the same player anymore’.
The former Bath man called for more to be done to protect the safety of players as early as 2023.
‘If I had lost my life I feel like more would have been done,’ Fletcher told the BBC in 2023.
‘Now that I have recovered and got back on the pitch it has been swept under the carpet a bit.’
Fletcher took up a role with the PFA in their Brain Health department following his injury in a bid to force change.
Vigar (left) pictured playing for Eastbourne Borough against Torquay United in 2024
‘I won’t stop,’ he added, ‘I’ll make sure that with my new role with the PFA I’ll keep driving for change to improve player safety because for me it was almost the end.
‘Luckily it wasn’t, but there’s not a lot that’s changed in grounds up and down the country.’
While Fletcher was recovering, the PFA and the Minister for Sport, Stuart Andrew MP, sent a letter to the leagues and FA setting out expectations over the guidance which would be given to clubs to prevent further incidents.
‘Collectively, football should do everything it can to make sure incidents like Alex Fletcher’s don’t happen. This is a step in the right direction and we appreciate the Minister’s support,’ a statement from the PFA at the time read.
Just a month before Vigar’s death, part of the breeze block wall at Wingate and Finchley collapsed to the side of one of the goals, causing the club’s chairman Aron Sharpe to hit out at the Dulwich Hamlet away supporters.
Meanwhile, the petition gaining traction following Vigar’s passing reads: ‘We, football lovers, urgently call for the removal of brick walls and other hard, immovable structures surrounding football pitches.
‘Billy’s passing is not an isolated incident—countless players at all levels have suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, concussions, and life-altering trauma, as a result of these dangerous barriers.
‘Many pitches, especially at grassroots and community level, remain bordered by solid brick walls placed only a few feet from the touchline. These walls serve no essential sporting purpose, yet they create an undeniable and avoidable hazard.
Former Bath City star Alex Fletcher almost died after colliding with pitchside hoardings more than two years ago. He was placed into a coma and was successfully operated on
‘Clubs, local councils, and sports authorities have a legal and moral obligation to provide a safe environment. Allowing hazardous structures to remain once the danger is known is a breach of that duty.
‘Billy Vigar’s death must be the last. We owe it to his memory – and to every player who steps onto a football pitch – to ensure that no one else suffers such a needless tragedy.’
Announcing his passing on Thursday, Chichester City, who have postponed their game against Lewes at the weekend, paid tribute to the 21-year-old in a statement.
It read: ‘It is with great sadness that Chichester City Football Club has to confirm the passing of Billy Vigar.’ Separately, they said: ‘Rest in peace Billy. Forever in the hearts of all at Chichester City Football Club.’
Arsenal wrote on their website: ‘Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is deeply sorry to hear of the tragic passing of Chichester City forward and former Arsenal academy player, Billy Vigar.
‘As well as his significant talent, Billy will always be remembered for his love of the game, pride at representing our football club – he once called the day he was spotted by our scouts as ‘the most important of his life’ – and a character beloved by teammates and coaches alike.
‘Billy went on to appear for us in the PL2 and EFL Trophy and proved to be an asset across the forward positions and even deputised in defence – his versatility illustrating his commitment to the coaching staff and his team.
‘Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.
A statement from Vigar’s family read: ‘After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put in an induced coma.
‘On Tuesday he needed an operation to aid any chances of recovery. Although this helped, the injury proved too much for him and he passed away on Thursday morning.
‘The responses to the original update show how much Billy was thought of and loved within the sport.
‘His family are devastated that this has happened whilst he was playing the sport that he loved.’
