The Football Association has confirmed that, following a review into pitch perimeter walls across the National League System and Women’s National League, clubs across those tiers must work to remove and replace any solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers that currently surround the playing surface.In a statement, issued via the FA's website, it confirms that clubs are no longer permitted to have 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 review was triggered after 21-year-old Chichester City forward Billy Vigar died after sustaining a "significant brain injury" while playing for Lilywhites against Wingate and Finchley in September 2025.
The FA statement confirms that, 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. Clubs at this level have been informed that they will be required to take action as a result of these changes.
However, matches may continue to be played at affected grounds during this period; but, 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 time frame.
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. The initial phase of the programme is already underway, and the FA will continue to provide full support to the clubs involved in this process.
It is currently unclear if or when the recently-confirmed regulations will be changed to include clubs in the Premier League and/ or EFL, but officials at Walsall must now be considering their options as the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium doesn't currently conform to said regulations.