The Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation has known as for a full investigation after the dying 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 “important mind harm” whereas taking part in for Chichester Metropolis at Wingate and Finchley FC final Saturday.
It’s thought the harm was prompted 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 mentioned: “Hopefully they will perceive the way it occurred, and why it occurred, and clearly attempt to keep away from this sort of factor.”
PFA chief govt Maheta Molango mentioned in an announcement it was 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 method to participant security on this space.
That got here after Bathtub 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 could be correctly established,” mentioned Molango.
“All of our ideas proper now are with Billy’s household and mates, and offering no matter assist we are able to to them,” he mentioned.
“All footballers ought to anticipate to be protected once they exit to play or prepare and to not be put at pointless and avoidable danger by elements past their management.
“While it’s important {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 stunning information,” Arteta mentioned.
“Right away you are desirous about the household, and the way troublesome it’s to undergo one thing like this in a really surprising means.
“Hopefully they will perceive the way it occurred, and why it occurred, and clearly attempt to keep away from this sort of factor.
“Actually unhappy information, and our ideas are with the household and all his family members.”
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