The English Football Association has banned perimeter walls of solid brick, breeze block or concrete around pitches following a safety review. The review, conducted by independent health and safety experts for the 2026-27 season, said it "no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches across the National League system for men [steps 1-6], and the Women's National League [tiers 3-4]".
The decision comes less than a year after the death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar, aged 21, who collided into a concrete wall by accident and sustained a “significant brain injury”.
In the weeks after Vigar’s death, Wingate & Finchley set about demolishing the concrete perimeter wall of its Maurice Rebak Stadium. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the FA announced an immediate review into the safety of perimeter walls and pitch boundaries in the National League system, working with leagues, clubs and relevant stakeholders.
The review, which was conducted by independent health and safety experts, concluded that such solid perimeter pitch-side walls would not be allowed in the FA’s Stadium Accreditation Criteria for the forthcoming 2026-27 season. Football clubs operating within the National League System are now mandated to remove or adequately pad brick and concrete walls surrounding pitches. Press Association Sport understands that of the approximately 900 clubs that play at the relevant levels, around 160 have been contacted regarding at least one element of their stadium which must be modified.
In a statement, the FA added: "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. "Matches may continue to be played at affected grounds during this period; however, clubs should assess the safety of their pitch perimeter barriers on an ongoing basis, and where alterations to these structures have been recommended during this review, they should develop a plan to complete any such alterations within a reasonable timeframe." Non-league clubs will receive financial assistance for implementing the modifications, with funding provided by both the FA and the Premier League. The statement concludes: “To support this important work, The FA and the Premier League will provide funding to facilitate these changes, which will be administered by the Premier League Stadium Fund.
Reporting: The Athletic, The Independent, BBC, Football.London, The Sun.