Calls for padding on pitch-side walls escalate after Billy Vigar’s death

The football world is confronting renewed warnings about pitch-side walls after the death of Billy Vigar, a 21-year-old player who collided with a concrete hoarding during an Isthmian League Premier Division match between Chichester City and Wingate & Finchley. The tragedy, which occurred last weekend, has intensified scrutiny of the safety of barriers that line the touchline and separate players from spectators.

The incident follows a pattern of prior near-misses and injuries that have repeatedly prompted calls for reform. In 2022, Alex Fletcher, a former Bath City player, suffered a traumatic collision during a National League South match at Twerton Park that left him in a coma and requiring emergency surgery; he later spent almost a year away from football. Fletcher’s collapse on the field became a turning point for discussions about pitch-side walls, raising questions about whether previous warnings had been adequately addressed. More recently, fans witnessed further injuries in lower-league and regional competition, underscoring that the issue is not isolated to a single game or division.

In the wake of Vigar’s death, the Professional Footballers' Association has renewed its push for safety reforms. Moheta Molango, the PFA chief executive, and Stuart Andrew, the ConservativeSports Minister, collaborated on a joint letter to chief executives of the FA, the National League, the Premier League and the English Football League. The letter urges a proactive, collaborative approach among governing bodies and clubs to prevent a recurrence and to protect players who routinely put their bodies on the line during competitive matches. It emphasizes the legal and ethical responsibilities of those running and owning venues and points to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as a baseline for action.

The missive calls for standardized guidance that clubs can reference when assessing pitch boundaries and protective measures. It specifically notes that padding or other protective solutions should be considered for walls that sit perilously close to the action, arguing that the current emphasis on protecting spectators should not come at the expense of players’ safety. The letter also urges leagues to review existing policies, share best practices, and adopt a clear timetable for implementing enhancements where risk exists. The message underscores that the risk to players is not theoretical and that timely action can reduce the likelihood of repeat tragedies.

Despite the warning signs, momentum toward meaningful change has appeared limited in the eyes of many observers. The letter itself frames the issue as not only a safety concern but a legal and ethical one, highlighting a perceived disconnect between governance and practice on the ground. In the months and years before Vigar’s death, other near-misses—including injuries to players such as Sebastian Fallowfield of Balham, who suffered concussion and a broken wrist, and Macauley Southam-Hales of Stockport County, who was hospitalised after colliding with pitch-side fencing during an FA Cup second-round replay—added to the mounting concerns. In some cases, governing bodies or clubs highlighted the incidents on social media or in official communications, only to revert to the status quo, prompting renewed criticism when new injuries occurred.

The Football Association has faced scrutiny for its responses to safety concerns raised by Fletcher and others. In 2023 and into 2024, Fletcher, who has since joined the PFA’s Brain Health team, described the issue as having been “swept under the carpet,” and the FA’s public response to his comments was described by some as dismal. The latest tragedy thus raises questions about whether the FA, the PFA, and the sport’s other governing bodies will act decisively this time. The PFA has said it will await the full investigation into Vigar’s death before making any final judgments, acknowledging that a family grieves and that conclusions must be grounded in verified findings.

Experts and players alike say action is overdue. Advocates argue that protective measures should not be contingent on a high-profile incident, and that consistent standards across leagues are essential. The immediate priority is to prevent more players from suffering life-altering injuries or worse while attempting to prevent targets being crossed by the ball. Clubs, ground owners and governing bodies are being urged to collaborate on practical steps—ranging from padding and relocation of certain barriers to clearer risk assessments and enhanced oversight of safety provisions on match days.

As the sport continues to mourn Vigar’s loss, the broader question remains whether the sport’s leadership will move quickly enough to translate warnings into tangible changes. In the coming weeks and months, observers will be watching closely to see if the joint call from Molango and Andrew yields concrete policy shifts that protect players at all levels and reduce the number of avoidable injuries caused by proximity to pitch-side walls. The outcome could redefine how football’s safety culture operates, reshaping what is considered acceptable risk at the world’s most popular sport.