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‘Vigar’s Law’ petition launched to ban brick walls around football pitches after player’s death

A ‘Vigar’s Law’ petition has been launched this week to ban brick walls around football pitches after the player’s death.

Sad news was announced on Thursday evening that the former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar, from Worthing, has tragically died aged 21.

He was placed into an induced coma after suffering a serious brain injury during a game at Wingate and Finchley on Saturday in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Vigar collided with a concrete wall while trying to keep the ball in play, causing his forehead to strike the wall after slipping on a wet surface. Emergency services quickly intervened, and the match was halted.
Chichester’s game against Lewes on Saturday has been postponed.

Thousands have signed the petition, while Dorking Wanderers boss Marc White tweeted: “All clubs need @FA to instruct an immediate enquiry into pitch surrounds. 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.”

The change.org petition page read: “We, football lovers, urgently call for the removal of brick walls and other hard, immovable structures surrounding football pitches. This petition is driven by the heartbreaking death of Billy Vigar, a young and talented footballer whose life was tragically cut short after a collision with a pitch-side brick wall. 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.

Football is meant to be a sport of passion, skill, and community—not a place where a simple fall or a mistimed run can result in permanent injury or death. Yet 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.

Key Reasons for Urgent Action

Player Safety Must Come First

Football involves constant high-speed movement and frequent contact. Players can be pushed or trip at full pace with no time to stop.

Hard, unyielding brick surfaces cause devastating injuries when struck, far worse than impact with a fence or padded barrier.

Preventable Tragedies

The death of Billy Vigar is a stark reminder that these walls are not merely unsafe—they are lethal.
Others have suffered broken limbs, spinal injuries, and head trauma. Each injury was predictable and entirely preventable.

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No Justifiable Purpose

Brick walls offer no benefit that cannot be achieved by safer alternatives such as mesh fencing, railings, or padded barriers.

They do not significantly improve pitch security or spectator management compared to modern lightweight, impact-absorbing solutions.

Duty of Care

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.

Our Demand

We call on local councils, football associations, governing bodies, and facility owners to:

Immediately assess all football pitches for the presence of brick or concrete walls within the playing vicinity.

Remove or replace these walls with safer alternatives (such as mesh fencing or padded railings) within a defined timeframe.

Introduce strict guidelines prohibiting the construction of new hard-surface barriers near active playing areas.

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. Football should be a game of joy and community, not a place where preventable hazards claim young lives.

Please sign and share this petition to demand immediate action and protect the safety of every player.”

Meanwhile, @AS_FootyReview tweeted: “Such tragic news, so sad… I think the football world should all come together for a minutes applause for Billy on the weekend, clubs that see this should all hold a minutes applause before the games as a show of support and respect for Billy and his family, thoughts are with everyone at @ChiCityFC and all of Billy’s family and friends.

“Let’s all get behind this and clubs socials on the 9th min on Saturday post only #BillyVigar 👏🏼 and get the whole non league community together with an online virtual applause, let’s make this weekend all about Billy… Rest in peace mate, 😔 so so sad!! #RIPBillyVigar 🤍”

Arsenal posted a heartfelt statement via www.arsenal.com: “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.

“Billy joined our academy on schoolboy terms aged 14, after being scouted at his hometown club Hove Rivervale FC and excelled as a striker at Hale End, scoring 17 goals in his debut season. In 2020, his performances earned him a scholarship and joined us full-time for the 2020/21 season, his intake including current players Charles Sagoe Jr, Remy Mitchell and others such as Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Patino and Brook Norton-Cuffy.

“Quick, powerful and fiercely determined, his first season as a scholar was blighted by a serious hamstring injury, but he made up for it in his second, scoring four goals in 18 under-18 appearances and signed professional terms for the club at the end of that 2021/22 season.

“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.

“He enjoyed loan spells at Derby County and Eastbourne Borough and at the end of the 2023/24 season, headed back to his native south coast, signing for Hastings United – prior to a move to Chichester just last month.

“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.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.”

It comes a few years on after we saw Alex Fletcher also suffered a near fatal head injury. Lats season, he released an an emotional video, retiring from football aged 25.

The former Bath City striker has announced his retirement from playing football, less than two years after the ex-Plymouth Argyle youth product collided with concrete barriers at Twerton Park mid game in November 2022.

Fletcher had major surgery to remove part of his skull recovery, and was unable to play football having spent 10 months of recovery before returning to the pitch in August 2023, signed for Weston-super-Mare back in November 2023, but the Southern League outfit announced in July 2024 that the striker had decided to retire.

Alex Fletcher, who suffered near fatal head injury, releases emotional video as he retires aged 25

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