Football grounds may very well be compelled to knock down partitions after ex Arsenal star’s tragic dying
Months on from ex-Arsenal star Billy Vigar’s tragic death, Daily Star Sunday understands the FA is looking into new rules to break down pitchside walls to stop another incident
Football grounds around the UK could be forced to knock down their pitch side areas to make them as compliant as Premier League grounds. This comes in the wake of the Billy Vigar tragedy, that saw the star player suddenly die after colliding with a pitchside wall.
The Daily Star Sunday understands that experts conducting the enquiry into safety at football grounds in England could bring into force rules that could see every single Non League ground affected. At present the minimum run-off requirement in the National League system is 1.83 metres from the pitch, while the minimum in the EFL is 2.25m, with 2.75m preferred.
The minimum for any new-build in the National League system, however, is three metres. That is the recommended minimum run-off in the Premier League and could be brought in as standard following the tragic death of 21-year-old Billy Vigar.
Whilst the changes would be welcomed, there are fears it would be costly. We are backing calls for the Football Association to stump up the bill.
An insider revealed: “The investigation is ongoing but the FA know that words of advice are not going to cut it now a young lad has died. They are looking to making it mandatory to make all tiers of football up to the standard of Premier League pitches by widening the gap around the pitch, increasing the distance between the pitch and the surroundings.
“This would be welcomed but the underlying question remains, how will this be funded? This would mean almost doubling some of the distances in some grounds. It’s major work, and work many clubs cannot afford.
“We could see a number of historic clubs go under for good, if the FA offers no financial support.” The Daily Star Sunday has launched our Balls to Walls campaign, urging the FA to do more to ensure player safety – and asking them to help non league clubs to make it happen following the death of Billy Vigar, who played for Chichester City FC.
Although the cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed, it is expected that it will be attributed to a collision between Vigar and a concrete perimeter barrier. This wall, which surrounds the Wingate & Finchley pitch, who Chichester were playing, has now been knocked down.
The FA announced immediately after that it would conduct “an immediate review … that will focus on the safety of perimeter walls and boundaries around pitches in the National League System” – from the fifth to the 10th tier – and told us this week that is ongoing with no updates as yet. An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned as the coroner looks to collect all of the evidence into his death.
Meanwhile, a new petition to remove walls as part of Vigar’s Law, has already brought in just under 17,000 different signatures. Created by Billy’s pal Jack Mison, the petition calls for all brick walls next to pitches to be totally demolished.
“Billy Vigar’s death must be the last,” he wrote. “We owe it to his memory—and to every player who steps onto a football pitch—to ensure that no one else suffers such a needless tragedy.”
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