The Football Association has banned solid perimeter walls around pitches after the death of former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar, a 21-year-old who suffered a significant brain injury in September 2025 while playing for Chichester City at Wingate and Finchley FC. The injury is believed to have been caused by a collision with a concrete wall.

An independent safety review for the 2026-27 season concluded that solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers are no longer permitted around pitches across the National League system for men (steps 1‑6) and the Women’s National League (tiers 3‑4). The FA stated that any existing solid barriers must be removed or covered with suitable protection, and clubs have been informed of the required changes. Matches can continue provided clubs assess the safety of their perimeter barriers on an ongoing basis and plan to make changes within a reasonable timeframe.

The FA and Premier League will provide funding to facilitate the changes. A petition calling for a ban on brick walls around pitches has received more than 4,000 signatures. The government and the Professional Footballers’ Association wrote to the FA, Premier League, English Football League and National League in June 2023, urging a proactive approach to player safety after incidents such as Bath City’s Alex Fletcher fractured skull in November 2022.

This move marks a significant step toward improving player safety in lower‑tier football across England.