Elkan Baggott Absent From Defending The National Team Due To Quarantine, PSSI Chairman Intervenes

Elkan Baggott (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) General Chair (Ketum) Mochamad Iriawan immediately intervened and took quick steps to be able to suspend the playing ban imposed on Elkan Baggott in the 2020 AFF Cup.

The defender was banned from playing because he was asked to undergo quarantine by the Singapore Ministry of Health. This incident became a problem because Baggott was actually included in the player the national team relied on against Vietnam tonight.

In order to see Baggott defend the Garuda squad, the chairman of PSSI intervened by asking the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore for help to take care of Baggott's quarantine polemic.

"Ketum (PSSI) has asked the Indonesian Embassy for help and support in Singapore. We hope this can be overcome with their help," said PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi in a written statement received by VOI, Wednesday.

The efforts made by the PSSI general chairman are not just contacting the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. Iriawan also hoped that the AFF and the Singapore Football Federation could help suspend Baggott's quarantine status.

"The PSSI still hopes that the AFF committee and the Singapore federation can help. Elkan came to represent the national team and together make the AFF a success," he continued.

Previously, it was known that Baggot was prohibited from appearing to defend the Garuda squad against Vietnam on the third matchday of Group B of the 2020 AFF Cup in Singapore. The player is said to have been quarantined for at least five days.

On his way from London to Singapore, Baggott was found to have had a passenger with an indication of COVID-19. In fact, upon arrival in Singapore on December 7, Baggott had already appeared when the national team faced Laos.