Doni Monardo: Football And Basketball Games Are Done Without Spectators

Chairman of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 who is also Chairman of the BNPB Doni Monardo (Photo: BNPB Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The implementation of health protocols in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic must be carried out at any time, including in the implementation of soccer and basketball sports competitions. In its implementation, Doni Monardo, Chair of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, said the two sports competitions could not be watched live or held without spectators.

This is in accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Health (KMK) HK.01.07-MENKES-382-2020 concerning Public Health Protocols in Public Places and Facilities in the Context of Prevention of COVID-19, issued by the Minister of Health on 19 June 2020.

"It needs to be ensured that all football and basketball competitions will be held without spectators. Please pay attention to the organizers to really comply with the consensus that has been made," Doni said in a written statement, Thursday, September 17.

Not only prohibiting spectators, he asked the organizers to ensure that the personnel and players are in good health and do not have comorbidities or comorbidities. Before competing, they are also required to carry out a swab test.

This is important as a measure to prevent transmission of COVID-19 while the competition is running. "Sports competitions are very important but overall health, both players and organizers, must also be our priority," said the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

In addition, in its implementation, competition organizers pay attention to the zoning of COVID-19 in each area where competition activities are held.

"This means that if a zoning area increases the threat of COVID-19, then there must be steps for evaluation to be able to relocate the match venue," he said.

Previously, a number of sports competition organizers in Indonesia signed a Covid-19 Safe Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) virtually on Thursday, September 17. Among them are the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and the Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi).

This signing was witnessed by Minister of Youth and Sports Zainuddin Amali and Chairman of the Covid-19 Task Force Doni Mordano. With the signing of this MoU, League 1 and 2 competitions and the IBL event are likely to be continued in October.

The Chairman of PSSI, Mochamad Iriawan, welcomed the signing of this MoU. He said a number of Asean countries had already held competitions. Starting from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

"We welcome it because we will host the 2021 U-20 World Cup. This is our reason to continue with Liga 1 and Liga 2," said Iriawan during a teleconference session.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Perbasi, Danny Kosasih, was very grateful to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for facilitating the signing of the MoU with BNPB. He said the MoU was intended to re-implement IBL according to health standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"By being able to run the league, it can improve basketball performance because the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 will be held in Jakarta. Likewise, the 2023 Basketball World Cup," said Kosasih.