Footballer who survived after a coma blames FA for inaction following player death.

Tragic death of a young footballer

According to The Sun: The footballer, who spent more than a week in a coma after a head injury during a match for 'Bath City', expressed his criticism regarding the inaction of the Football Association (FA).

This situation gained particular resonance following the death of former Arsenal youth star Billy Vigar, who passed away last week from a similar injury.

Vigar's case and safety challenges

The unfortunate incident involving Vigar occurred during a match for 'Chichester City' against 'Wingate & Finchley', when he crashed into an unprotected concrete wall. He was rushed to the hospital and placed in an induced coma, but unfortunately, he died from brain injuries.

This tragedy has heightened calls for improved safety standards at stadiums. The FA announced plans to review the safety of perimeter walls at lower league stadiums, but Alix Fletcher believes the response was delayed.

“I think it's too little and too late. If you ask Billy's family, they will say it won't bring their son back,” said Fletcher.

Fletcher, a 26-year-old footballer, himself suffered a severe injury after falling during a match and sustaining a skull fracture, which led to hearing loss in his left ear and ultimately to his retirement from football in 2024.

“I know from my own experience what suffering my family went through after my incident,” he continued.

Clubs' reaction and future plans

The 'Chichester' club decided to postpone their match on Tuesday, while 'Wingate & Finchley' canceled their next two matches. The club issued a statement confirming that it would take safety measures at its stadium.

“In respect of Billy Vigar's memory, the club decided to postpone two home matches this week,” the statement read.

The club is seriously committed to installing rubber protective padding on the stadium premises, having prepared all the necessary accreditations.

These tragic events have once again highlighted the importance of safety in football. Feedback from players and clubs shows that this issue needs urgent addressing. The strategies proposed by the FA evoke mixed assessments, as it is not enough to merely review regulations — real changes are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.