The football world is in mourning following the death of Billy Vigar, a 21-year-old former Arsenal academy player who sustained a fatal brain injury while playing for Chichester City. Vigar collided with a concrete wall during a match against Wingate and Finchley on Saturday, September 20, 2025. He was placed in an induced coma and underwent surgery, but the injury proved too severe, and he passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and renewed calls for increased player safety at lower-league football grounds. A petition dubbed "Vigar's Law" has been launched, demanding the removal of concrete walls and other immovable structures surrounding football pitches. Many argue that Vigar's death was preventable and that the Football Association (FA) has been too slow to address the dangers posed by pitch-side barriers.
Alex Fletcher, a former Bath City striker whose career was cut short due to a similar incident, has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the FA. In November 2022, Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with an advertising board reinforced with concrete blocks. He has since become an advocate for enhanced player safety, working within the brain health department of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).
Fletcher believes that the FA's proposed safety review of perimeter walls is "too little, too late". "I think if you asked Billy's family, they would say that that isn't going to bring their son back, unfortunately," Fletcher told BBC Breakfast. He argues that urgent action is needed to prevent future tragedies, stating, "It's something that needs to happen urgently because there are hundreds of football matches being played across the country at all levels where this kind of incident could occur again and where it's billed as a freak accident - it's an accident waiting to happen, quite frankly".
The FA has stated that it will conduct an immediate review of the safety of perimeter walls and boundaries in the National League system. The review will include assessing how the FA can assist clubs in implementing additional safety measures. However, Fletcher and others believe that more drastic measures are necessary, such as removing or modifying dangerous pitch-side structures. He has called for perimeter walls to be knocked down, rebuilt with "more suitable material," or, as a last resort, covered in padding.
The PFA has also called for a formal investigation into Vigar's death, with chief executive Maheta Molango stating that players should expect to be safe while playing. Molango noted that the PFA had urged the FA to act on this issue two years prior, following Fletcher's injury.
Tributes have poured in for Vigar from across the football community. Arsenal expressed their devastation at the news, describing Vigar as a "powerful and versatile forward". Derby County, where Vigar had a loan spell, also offered their condolences. Chichester City postponed their scheduled match against Lewes as a mark of respect.
The government has also backed the FA's review, with Children, Families and Wellbeing Minister Josh MacAlister stating that "lessons must be learnt". He added that the government supports the FA in looking into whether changes need to be made to make pitches safer.
As the football world mourns the loss of Billy Vigar, there is a growing sense of urgency to address the issue of player safety at lower-league grounds. Many believe that Vigar's death must be a catalyst for change, ensuring that no other young footballer loses their life due to preventable injuries. The FA faces mounting pressure to take decisive action and implement meaningful changes to protect players at all levels of the game.
