PFA demands investigation after Billy Vigar’s tragic death at 21

Young footballer Billy Vigar, formerly of Arsenal, died on Thursday after suffering from a brain injury while playing for Chichester City last weekend

The PFA have called for an investigation into the incident which led to the death of former Arsenal striker Billy Vigar. The 21-year-old forward passed away on Thursday after suffering an injury during a game for Chichester City vs Wingate and Finchley in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Vigar suffered a ‘significant’ brain injury during a match after being widely reported to have collided with a concrete wall attempting to keep the ball in play at the Maurice Rebak Stadium. The Arsenal youth product was taken to hospital and placed into an induced coma before undergoing surgery on Tuesday but later passed away on Thursday.

The incident has seen calls to ensure pitch surroundings are safe for players with Dorking Wanderers owner Mark White labelling many pitches in the football pyramid as dangerous. And the PFA believe an investigation is necessary after Vigar’s family have been properly supported.

The PFA’s chief executive Maheta Molango said in a statement it was vital to ensure “opportunities to make grounds safer for players have not been missed”.

“Clearly there needs to be a formal investigation into the incident that has led to Billy Vigar’s tragic death, and it is right that this is allowed to take place so that the full circumstances can be properly established,” Molango said. “All of our thoughts right now are with Billy’s family and friends, and providing whatever support we can to them.

“When the time is right, we will offer any assistance we can as part of any investigation process, specifically information that may be helpful regarding the safety of players in grounds. That includes sharing concerns we have raised previously around incidents where PFA members have been seriously injured in collisions with perimeter walls and fences, such as that involving Alex Fletcher at Bath City.

“All footballers should expect to be safe when they go out to play or train, and to not be put at unnecessary and avoidable risk by factors beyond their control.

“When we previously highlighted potential safety issues in grounds and stadiums, the Sports Minister and I wrote to all the football authorities to urge them to be proactive on this and to make sure all their rules and regulations around player safety were fit for purpose.

“Again, whilst it is important that a proper investigation is allowed to conclude, we have to ensure that opportunities to make grounds safer for players have not been missed and that players don’t feel that serious incidents involving their safety are necessary to prompt change.”

The Government and the PFA wrote to the chief executives of the Football Association, the Premier League, the EFL and the National League in June 2023, after Bath City’s Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with an advertising board reinforced with concrete blocks. They called on them to adopt a proactive approach to player safety.

The PFA’s director of external affairs, Ben Wright, said at the time: “Although safety is ultimately the responsibility of the stadium owner, the PFA’s view is that the direction given to clubs in this area is not as strong as it could be.”

“Collectively, football should do everything it can to make sure incidents like Alex Fletcher’s don’t happen.”

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