Following the death of Billy Vigar, a former youth player for Arsenal, the Football Association has announced that it will conduct an immediate safety review of the perimeter walls at National League stadiums.
Striker Vigar, age 21, passed away on Thursday after suffering a “significant brain injury” while playing for Chichester City at Wingate and Finchley FC on Saturday.
The club has not confirmed whether the injury was brought on by his collision with a concrete wall.
More than 4, 000 people have signed a petition calling for the removal of brick walls near football stadiums.
Working with leagues, clubs, and other interested parties in the game, the FA announced in a statement that “we will now conduct an immediate review” that will concentrate on the safety of perimeter walls and boundaries around the National League system.
This will include looking into ways to help National League system clubs identify and implement additional safety measures at their stadiums that they believe will help reduce any potential safety risks.
In a statement, PFA GM Maheta Molango said it was crucial to make sure “occasions to make grounds safer for players have been missed.”
He continued, “We’re all here to support Billy’s family and friends and offer any support we can.”
“Every footballer should anticipate being safe when they travel to play or exercise.”
In a letter to the FA, Premier League, English Football League, and National League in June 2023, the government and PFA asked them to take a more proactive approach to player safety.
Alex Fletcher of Bath City collided with a concrete advertising hoarding during a game in November 2022, and he fractured his skull in the process.
Knowing that the warnings were present, Luke Griggs, the CEO of brain injury charity Headway, said on BBC Sport, “This tragedy is even harder to bear.”
We can’t sit back and allow this to happen again, he said. “Action must be taken.”
Griggs requested funding for improvements to the lower-tier of the pyramid by football’s biggest players.
To actually help these clubs make the necessary changes, he added, “it would require a collaboration with the FA, PFA, local authorities, and sponsors.”
“We need to be looking at creative solutions by padding all those concrete walls in the interim.”
The amount of money in football cannot be passed on to other people, to pass the blame on it, they say. People must take ownership of this and step forward.
After graduating from the Arsenal academy in 2024, Vigar also spent time at Derby County, Eastbourne Borough, and Hastings United.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said at a press conference on Friday that he would like to see them comprehend how and why it happened and how they should proceed.
“This is shocking news,” You immediately begin to consider the family and how challenging it is to go through something like this.
“I’m hoping they can comprehend how it happened, why it happened, and make an effort to stay away from this kind of thing.”
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Source: BBC
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