The Football Association (FA) has banned the use of solid brick, breeze block, or concrete perimeter walls around pitches in the National League system for men (steps 1-6) and the Women's National League (tiers 3-4) starting from the 2026-27 season [1, 2, 3, 4].
The move follows a safety review by independent health and safety experts after former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar died from a serious brain injury sustained in September 2025. Vigar, 21, collided with a concrete wall during an Isthmian League Premier Division match while playing for seventh-tier side Chichester City [1, 2, 3, 4].
The FA requires all existing solid brick, breeze block, or concrete barriers to be removed "as soon as reasonably practicable" or covered with suitable protection if removal is structurally impossible. The FA stated, "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" [1].
Affected clubs may continue matches while assessing safety and planning changes within a reasonable timeframe. The FA and Premier League will provide funding to assist clubs with the required modifications [1, 2, 3, 4].
The FA’s review was prompted by player safety concerns raised after a similar incident in November 2022, when Bath City's Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with a concrete advertising hoarding. Following that injury, the government and the Professional Footballers' Association wrote to football authorities in June 2023 urging greater proactive safety measures for pitchside barriers [1].
A petition calling for a ban on brick walls around football pitches following Vigar’s death gathered more than 4,000 signatures [1].
The FA announced the ban on August 7, 2026, after completing its safety review for the upcoming season [2, 3, 4]. It has communicated the requirement to all clubs impacted by the new rules, emphasizing their responsibility to comply [1].
