The COVID-19 Task Force: Continuation Of League 1 Must Consider COVID-19 Risk Zoning

Illustration of the League 1 competition (Doc. Liga 1)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito said the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) must coordinate with the police regarding the continuation of the League 1 match.

Wiku said that coordination regarding the continuation of football matches during the pandemic must consider the status of the COVID-19 zoning or risk zone in the area that hosts the league.

"Regarding the granting of a football match permit, there needs to be further coordination between PSSI and LIB, with the police and also considering the zoning status in which the football match will be held," Wiku said in a YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Thursday, October 22.

Wiku said that the decision to postpone sports competitions was for mutual safety and health.

Therefore, Wiku supports the position of PSSI which has compiled health protocols for soccer matches involving medical experts and has also budgeted the costs for the swab test.

"Whatever the activity is, as long as it is committed to complying with health protocols, it is acceptable to carry out these activities," said Wiku.

"In the implementation of the league, there needs to be compliance from all components of football organizers or all those related to football. Federation, clubs to supporters," he continued.

Previously, PSSI and PT LIB held extraordinary meetings with clubs in Yogyakarta. As a result, all parties agreed to continue the 2020 League 1 competition on November 1, 2020.

However, this decision is not certain. This is because PSSI and PT LIB have not yet received permission from the police.

If it was canceled on November 1, PSSI Acting Secretary General Yunus Nusi said there were three options for the competition to be continued. The first option will roll back the competition on November 1, 2020 and finish in March 2021.

If the police still do not issue a permit, PSSI will use the second option. The competition will continue on December 1, 2020. This is all PSSI did because of the aspirations of the club that want the competition to be held again.

Later, if the crowd has not yet gotten permission because it coincides with the 2020 Pilkada, PSSI will try to start on January 1, 2021.

"Hopefully the club's aspiration for the competition to be held again can come true," said Yunus Nusi.

If the last option is used, the 2020 League 1 competition will most likely be held in two regions. The reason is, the limited time available. As is known, Indonesia will hold the U-20 World Cup in May-June 2021.