The Premier League, English Football League and Women’s Super League are reviewing pitch perimeters across their clubs in light of the death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar last year.
Vigar died at the age of 21 from a “significant brain injury”, five days after colliding with a concrete wall surrounding a pitch while playing for non-league side Chichester City.
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On the eve of this season the Football Association banned clubs from having concrete, breeze block or solid brick walls surrounding their pitches, but this only applied to the National League and Women’s National League.
Now it has emerged there is work under way at the highest levels.
It is understood the Premier League carried out a survey of clubs on pitch perimeters, including on the material used and the run-off distance, in light of Vigar’s death.
The top flight also shared the outcome of the FA’s review with clubs.
BBC Sport has approached the Premier League for comment on the outcome of its pitch survey.
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The EFL also issued a survey to clubs at the start of this year to build a picture of the perimeter structure at each ground.
This also sought information about run-off distances, surfaces and gradients, and any other trip hazards.
BBC Sport understands specific health and safety assessments have been recommended for clubs found to have high-risk perimeters, in order to mitigate risk.
This survey was in addition to the regular work carried out at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, and came as a result of Vigar’s death.
Meanwhile, in the WSL and WSL2 there is an acknowledgement that many of the grounds are shared with men’s teams in other leagues.
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The police investigation into Vigar’s death is ongoing, with a further hearing scheduled for 10 February.
The Metropolitan Police expects there will be another “two to three months” before any conclusion is reached.
Vigar’s parents, Keith and Camilla, told BBC Sport on the one-year anniversary that “the FA could have stopped Billy losing his life because they had so many warnings”.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
