The Football Association has banned solid brick, breeze block and concrete perimeter walls around pitches in parts of English football following the death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar. The move is intended to reduce the risk of serious head injuries after Vigar, 21, suffered a significant brain injury in a collision with a concrete wall during a match in September 2025.

The rule applies from the 2026-27 season across the men’s National League system, steps one to six, and the Women’s National League, tiers three and four. Existing barriers must be removed where practical or protected if structural reasons prevent removal; affected matches may continue while clubs assess risks and schedule changes, supported by FA and Premier League funding. The decision follows a petition with more than 4,000 signatures and earlier safety concerns after Bath City’s Alex Fletcher fractured his skull in a 2022 collision with a concrete advertising hoarding.