The decision follows a period of intense public and professional pressure regarding the safety of non-league grounds. Following Vigar’s death, a petition calling for a total ban on brick walls around football pitches garnered more than 4,000 signatures from concerned fans and players. The momentum for change had been building for several years, highlighted by other high-profile incidents involving dangerous advertising hoardings and perimeter structures that left players with life-altering injuries while performing on the pitch.
In June 2023, the government and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) took the step of writing to the FA, the Premier League, the English Football League, and the National League. Their joint correspondence urged the governing bodies to adopt a more proactive approach to player safety in this specific area.