LIB Doesn't Have A Plan To Stop Liga 1 Indonesia Even Though COVID-19 Cases Increase

Liga 1 Indonesia 2022 (HUMAS LIB)

JAKARTA – The organizers of the Indonesian League 1 have no plans to stop the competition amid the outbreak of COVID-19 cases. The highest caste of the homeland continues according to the plan, referring to regulations.

PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) Director of Operations Sudjarno said that currently what might happen was the postponement of the match. That's even if there are less than 14 people left in a team.

"Until now, Liga 1 will still go according to plan," said Sudjarno, quoted by Antara.

Until now, LIB is facing the COVID-19 situation of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) referring to Article 52 of the 2021-2022 League 1 Competition Regulations Paragraph 7.

The essence of this article states that a club with less than 14 players remaining (including one of them is a goalkeeper) after the antigen test on match day, the LIB and the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) will immediately hold a meeting and the decision will be final.

The meeting will decide whether the match will be canceled or not if there are less than 14 players from one team.

"So it is related to the status of the match and not the competition," said Sudjarno.

By January 2022, there were at least six clubs whose players tested positive for COVID-19. These clubs are Arema FC, Persebaya, Persib, Persija, PSM and PSS. Sudjarno emphasized that almost all of the players infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus without symptoms.

"Even if there are symptoms, the most common is coughing," said the retired police officer with the last rank of Inspector General.

In order to prevent more additional COVID-19 cases, the LIB calls on clubs to tighten surveillance on their players. Football players and all League 1 personnel are expected not to cross the bubble region that has been set.

“Our clubs ask us to only engage in outdoor activities if the activities are related to training. If there is a violation, right, the club itself will lose," said Sudjarno.