The FA has introduced new regulations prohibiting solid brick, breeze block and concrete barriers around pitches across the National League System, following a safety review triggered by the death of Billy Vigar.
The 21-year-old Chichester City forward and former Arsenal youth striker sustained a fatal brain injury in September last year when he ran into a concrete wall while attempting to keep the ball in play during a match at Wingate and Finchley.
Under the updated pitch perimeter criteria, such barriers are no longer permitted at clubs competing in men’s steps one to six and tiers three and four of the Women’s National League.
The FA has notified roughly 160 of the approximately 900 clubs playing at the affected levels that at least one element of their ground requires modification.
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In a statement, the FA said: “Any existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable, or covered with suitable protection if they cannot be removed for structural reasons.
“We have informed the clubs at this level that will be required to take action as a result of these changes.
“Matches may continue to be played at affected grounds during this period.
“However, clubs should assess the safety of their pitch perimeter barriers on an ongoing basis, and where alterations to these structures have been recommended during this review, they should develop a plan to complete any such alterations within a reasonable timeframe.”
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Financial support for the necessary work will come jointly from the FA and the Premier League, channelled through the Premier League Stadium Fund.
“The initial phase of the programme is already underway, and we will continue to provide full support to the clubs involved in this process,” the FA said.
The players’ union had been campaigning for a comprehensive review of pitch perimeter safety well before Vigar’s tragic death.
In 2022, Bath City’s Alex Fletcher was left in a coma after a similar incident, prompting the PFA to escalate its concerns about the dangers posed by hard barriers at non-league grounds.
By June 2023, the PFA and the then Sports Minister, Stuart Andrew, had jointly written to the FA, the Premier League, the EFL and the National League, urging them to examine perimeter safety standards.
Reacting to the announcement, a PFA spokesman said: “Following the tragic death of Billy Vigar last year, we again highlighted these concerns and made clear our view that the lack of progress and leadership on this issue had been unacceptable.
“As part of working groups set up by the FA following Billy’s death, we pushed for the FA’s Stadium Accreditation criteria to be amended to ban these types of walls so that there is a clear and centralised policy for clubs to follow.
“Given that, it’s a welcome step that the FA’s regulations have now been changed to reflect that position.
“However, it will now be important for progress on the removal of such walls – and effective mitigation of risks ahead of their removal – to be properly monitored, and for clubs to be given the support they need so that these changes can happen as soon as possible.
“Player safety must always come first.”
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