FA orders safety changes at 160 football grounds after Billy Vigar death

The Football Association has ordered safety changes at around 160 football grounds, one year after the death of Billy Vigar. Vigar, 21, died after colliding with a concrete wall during a non-league match in North London. He had played for Arsenal's academy as a teenager. The collision happened on a Saturday afternoon. His parents said time stood still. Five days later, he died from a significant brain injury.

His parents said they believed his death could have been prevented. They said the FA had been warned before. They pointed to Ben Hiscox, who died in 2015 after colliding with a clubhouse near Bristol. They also cited Alex Fletcher, who fractured his skull in 2022 after colliding with concrete barriers next to the pitch at Bath City's ground. The FA reviewed clubs after that incident, but the family said nothing was done with the information. They said one high-risk club identified in that review was Wingate, where Billy later lost his life. They believe the FA was forced to act this time because of Billy's links to Arsenal.

Billy's father works in health and safety. He said people do not go to work expecting to be injured or to die. The FA's stadium criteria for the National League system used to require a permanent barrier around the pitch of sound construction, such as concrete and steel. That changed in August. The new rules no longer permit solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches. The FA and the Premier League have agreed to help fund the work needed.

More than 900 clubs had their pitch perimeters assessed after Billy's accident. Around 160 were told they would need to make changes. At Chichester City, the pitch is surrounded by a fence that meets the new rules. Alex Fletcher said the response was too little, too late. He said it was a complete dereliction of duty that the FA only came to the table after Billy's death.

An FA spokesperson said the organisation was deeply saddened by Billy's passing and its thoughts and condolences remained with his family, friends and loved ones. The spokesperson said important work to change pitch perimeters was underway. The FA added that it understood the devastating impact of Billy's passing and remained committed to supporting clubs in making stadiums and grounds as safe as possible.