Liga 1 Still Running When AFF Cup 2020 Held, LIB Managing Director: It's All Clubs Agreed

President Director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB), Akhmad Hadian Lukita (left) with PT LIB's Operational Director Sudjarno (right) (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The President Director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) Akhmad Hadian Lukita said the 2021-2022 Liga 1 will continue to run when the 2020 AFF Cup takes place starting in December 2021.

Akhmad Hadian said that all League 1 clubs had agreed at the manager meeting on Friday, November 5.

"League 1 continues along with the AFF Cup. When the manager meeting discussed whether Liga 1 would be stopped or not. Apparently, the club agreed that League 1 would continue with a record number of players from each team that could be drawn to the national team a maximum of two people," said the man. from West Java, Antara reported.

According to Akhmad Hadian, this has also been agreed by PSSI, which at the manager's meeting was represented by Deputy General Chairman Iwan Budianto and Secretary General Yunus Nusi.

However, for official FIFA tournaments or matches, PSSI can call up about three players from each League 1 team. This is because of the obligation to cancel league activities when national team activities are on the FIFA agenda. As is known, the AFF Cup is not part of the FIFA agenda.

"If the league activities are empty, three players (from each team) can go to the national team," said Akhmad Hadian.

In the 2020 AFF Cup, Indonesia will start the match against Cambodia on December 9, 2021. The Garuda squad is in Group B with Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia.

Next, Indonesia will face Laos on 12 December 2021, Vietnam three days later and Malaysia on Sunday 19 December 2021.

All matches for the Indonesian national team, which was coached by Shin Tae-yong, took place at Bishan Stadium, Singapore. The 2020 AFF Cup was indeed held centrally due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AFF Cup 2020 Group A is inhabited by Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Timor Leste. Timor Leste entered the finals because Brunei Darussalam withdrew from the competition.

AFF Cup 2020 group division (Photo: Antara)