Players should not be put at avoidable risk - PFA

Billy Vigar was a youth player at Arsenal

The Professional Footballers' Association has called for a full investigation after the death of former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar and says players should "not be put at unnecessary and avoidable risk".

Striker Vigar, 21, died on Thursday after sustaining a "significant brain injury" while playing for Chichester City at Wingate and Finchley FC last Saturday.

It is thought the injury was caused when he collided with a concrete wall, but the club have not confirmed this.

A petition calling for a ban on brick walls around football pitches has received more than 4,000 signatures.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: "Hopefully they can understand how it happened, and why it happened, and obviously try to avoid this kind of thing."

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

The government and the PFA wrote to the Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League and the National League in June 2023 calling on them to adopt a more proactive approach to player safety in this area.

That came after Bath City's Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with a concrete advertising hoarding during a match in November 2022.

"Clearly there needs to be a formal investigation into the incident and it is right that this is allowed to take place so that the full circumstances can be properly established," said Molango.

"All of our thoughts right now are with Billy's family and friends, and providing whatever support we can to them," he said.

"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.

"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."

BBC Sport has contacted the FA for comment.

Vigar was a graduate of the Arsenal academy, leaving the club in 2024, and also had spells at Derby County, Eastbourne Borough and Hastings United.

"It is shocking news," Arteta said.

"Straight away you're thinking about the family, and how difficult it is to go through something like this in a very unexpected way.

"Hopefully they can understand how it happened, and why it happened, and obviously try to avoid this kind of thing.

"Really sad news, and our thoughts are with the family and all his loved ones."