Fans urge ban on concrete walls after Billy Vigar’s death

Billy Vigar, 21, a former Arsenal academy forward, died on Thursday after sustaining a significant brain injury he suffered during a match for Chichester City last Saturday. He had been in an induced coma and underwent surgery, but doctors could not save him.

Vigar was playing away at Wingate & Finchley in the London borough of Barnet, a ground where a brick wall runs along the touchline. It is believed he collided with the wall while trying to keep the ball in play, an incident that led to the injury and subsequent death.

Within hours of the club’s announcement, a Change.org petition titled Vigars Law began circulating, urging football authorities to remove brick walls and other hard, immovable structures from around pitches. By Thursday night it had gathered more than 1,000 signatures as supporters argued that such barriers pose an avoidable risk to players and spectators alike.

Flowers and tributes poured in from across the football world, with messages of condolence coming from former clubs including Arsenal, Chichester City, Derby County, Eastbourne Borough and Hastings United. Chichester City also announced the postponement of their weekend match against Lewes as a mark of respect and to support those grieving.

Clubs and supporters have long debated the safety and practicality of walls and other perimeter structures at lower levels of the game. Proponents of removal or padding say such barriers offer little sporting value and can create hazards when players collide with them. Opponents note that some grounds rely on walls for crowd control and continuity of operations, especially where staffing and stewarding resources are limited and where removing barriers could involve significant cost.

Contextual reminders from recent history factor into the discussion. In 2022, a Bath City player, Alex Fletcher, suffered multiple skull fractures after a collision with a concrete advertising hoarding during a match; he survived after surgery but the incident is cited in debates about ground safety and the potential dangers posed by hard perimeter structures.

Vigar’s career path illustrates his progression through English football. A product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, he joined the club as a schoolboy in 2014, signed scholarship terms in 2020, and earned a professional contract in 2022. He appeared for Arsenal’s under-21s and later spent time at Hastings United before joining Chichester City in the 2025 season. The club, Arsenal and Vigar’s family have all expressed their condolences as the football community processes the loss.

Arsenal publicly expressed sorrow at the news, highlighting Vigar’s talent and his love of the game, while the FA offered its condolences and said it would support the family and all those affected. Wingate & Finchley and other stakeholders have been contacted for comment as authorities assess the incident and policies around pitch safety. The focus, for now, remains on honoring Billy Vigar’s memory and ensuring that no other player suffers a similar tragedy on a football pitch.