The Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation has known as for a full investigation after the demise of former Arsenal youth participant Billy Vigar and says gamers ought to “not be put at pointless and avoidable danger”.
Striker Vigar, 21, died on Thursday after sustaining a “vital mind damage” whereas enjoying for Chichester Metropolis at Wingate and Finchley FC final Saturday.
It’s thought the damage was brought on when he collided with a concrete wall, however the membership haven’t confirmed this.
A petition calling for a ban on brick partitions round soccer pitches has obtained greater than 4,000 signatures.
Talking at a information convention on Friday, Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta stated: “Hopefully they will perceive the way it occurred, and why it occurred, and clearly attempt to keep away from this type of factor.”
PFA chief govt Maheta Molango stated in an announcement it was very important to make sure “alternatives to make grounds safer for gamers haven’t been missed”.
The federal government and the PFA wrote to the Soccer Affiliation, the Premier League, the English Soccer League and the Nationwide League in June 2023 calling on them to undertake a extra proactive strategy to participant security on this space.
That got here after Tub Metropolis’s Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured cranium after colliding with a concrete promoting hoarding throughout a match in November 2022.
“Clearly there must be a proper investigation into the incident and it’s proper that that is allowed to happen in order that the complete circumstances may be correctly established,” stated Molango.
“All of our ideas proper now are with Billy’s household and buddies, and offering no matter help we are able to to them,” he stated.
“All footballers ought to anticipate to be protected once they exit to play or practice and to not be put at pointless and avoidable danger by components past their management.
“While it is crucial {that a} correct investigation is allowed to conclude, we have now to make sure that alternatives to make grounds safer for gamers haven’t been missed and that gamers do not feel that critical incidents involving their security are essential to immediate change.”
BBC Sport has contacted the FA for remark.
Vigar was a graduate of the Arsenal academy, leaving the membership in 2024, and in addition had spells at Derby County, Eastbourne Borough and Hastings United.
“It’s surprising information,” Arteta stated.
“Immediately you are occupied with the household, and the way troublesome it’s to undergo one thing like this in a really surprising approach.
“Hopefully they will perceive the way it occurred, and why it occurred, and clearly attempt to keep away from this type of factor.
“Actually unhappy information, and our ideas are with the household and all his family members.”
