The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Chichester City player Billy Vigar, emphasizing the need for improved safety measures at football grounds. Vigar, a former Arsenal youth player, tragically passed away at the age of 21 after sustaining a significant brain injury during a match against Wingate & Finchley on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
It has been widely reported that Vigar collided with a concrete wall while trying to keep the ball in play. He was immediately taken to the hospital and placed in an induced coma. On Tuesday, he underwent an operation to aid his recovery, but the injury proved too severe, and he passed away on Thursday morning.
Maheta Molango, the PFA's chief executive, issued a statement emphasizing the right of players to expect a safe playing environment, free from unnecessary and avoidable risks. He stressed the importance of ensuring that all opportunities to enhance player safety at grounds are realized.
Molango stated that a formal investigation into the incident leading to Vigar's death is necessary to fully establish the circumstances. The PFA has offered its full support to Vigar's family and friends during this difficult time and pledged to provide any assistance possible to the investigation process. This includes sharing information regarding the safety of players in grounds, referencing previous concerns raised about incidents where PFA members have been seriously injured in collisions with perimeter walls and fences.
The PFA and the Government had previously addressed concerns about player safety in June 2023, writing to the chief executives of the Football Association, the Premier League, the EFL, and the National League. This communication urged a more proactive approach to player safety, following an incident in November 2022 where Bath City's Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with an advertising board reinforced with concrete blocks.
Vigar's death has prompted calls from football fans for a change in regulations, including a petition for the removal of brick walls and other hard, immovable structures surrounding pitches. Tributes have poured in from across the football community, with Arsenal, where Vigar spent time in the academy, expressing their devastation at the news. The club remembered him as a "quick, powerful and fiercely determined" player. Chichester City has postponed their scheduled match against Lewes.
