The FA has updated its ground-safety rules for the 2026/27 season after a review that followed the death of Billy Vigar, with solid brick, breeze block and concrete barriers no longer permitted around pitches at Steps 1-6 of the National League System and in the Women’s National League tiers 3-4.
The former Arsenal youngster died after suffering a significant brain injury following a collision with a perimeter wall while playing for Chichester City against Wingate & Finchley last season. That tragedy has now led to a phased review of pitch perimeter walls across the non-league and women’s game, carried out with independent Health and Safety experts.
What The FA has changed
The revised Stadium Accreditation Criteria for the 2026/27 season mean 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.
The FA has also told affected clubs that they will be required to take action, although matches may continue to be played at grounds during the period when alterations are being planned and completed.
A phased safety review
The governing body said it had undertaken a review of pitch perimeter walls across the National League System and Women’s National League to identify improvements that could help clubs mitigate safety risks at their grounds and stadiums.
It added that the programme is ongoing and phased, and that clubs should assess the safety of their perimeter barriers on an ongoing basis. Where changes have been recommended, they are expected to draw up a plan to complete the work within a reasonable timeframe.
That approach matters because the new rules are not just about one ground or one incident. They are aimed at a wider set of clubs across Steps 1-6 and Tiers 3-4, where the physical design of a pitch boundary can now be treated as a safety issue that needs active management rather than a legacy feature that can be left in place.
Funding and next steps
The FA said support for the work will come from The FA and the Premier League, with funding administered by the Premier League Stadium Fund. It also said the initial phase of the programme is already underway and that it will continue to support clubs through the process.
For clubs at this level, the message is clear: the standards have changed, the review is live, and the expectation is that dangerous perimeter structures are either removed or properly protected before the new season framework fully bites.
