Ex-Arsenal striker Billy Vigar's death sees the FA finally make significant safety call

The Football Association (FA) have confirmed it will review the perimeter walls and boundaries of non-league football pitches following the death of Billy Vigar. The 21-year-old tragically passed away on Thursday after suffering an injury for Chichester City against Wingate & Finchley.

The development from the FA comes after a petition was launched in wake of Vigar's death. The match on Saturday against Wingate & Finchley was abandoned after just 10 minutes following the injury, after Vigar had collided with a concrete wall.

Chichester later released statements confirming that the 21-year-old suffered a significant brain injury and that he required an emergency operation, but on Thursday, he succumbed to his injuries.

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In a statement, the Football Association confirmed that an investigation will take place around stadiums in the National League System. It read: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Vigar.

"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."

It is believed that he collided with the wall as he attempted to keep the ball in play.

The FA have confirmed that tributes will be paid to the striker across the National League system and FA Cup matches, with the third qualifying round set to take place this weekend.

The review from the FA comes after the high-profile incident involving Alex Fletcher, who collided with concrete advertising hoardings in November 2022, while playing for Bath City in the National League South.

He was forced to undergo emergency surgery and was left in a coma. Fletcher managed to return playing in August 2023 but retired in 2024.

Following the news of his death, tributes poured in from across the non-league community and professional football clubs.

Arsenal, a club where Vigar spent his formative years after signing as a 14-year-old, paid tribute in a statement.

Ahead of this weekend's Premier League encounter against Newcastle United, head coach Mikel Arteta expressed his shock at the untimely passing of the former prospect.

"Well, it's shocking news, when I got it yesterday, obviously," he said.

"So straight away thinking about the family and how difficult it is to go through something like this in a very unexpected way as well.

"And hopefully they will dig in and understand what happened, why it happened and try to avoid these kind of things. But really sad news, and our full support with the family and our thoughts with all the loved ones."