PSSI Ensures League 1 And 2 This Season Use The Old Format

PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan (center) posing for a photo with PSSI Deputy General Chair Iwan Budianto (right) and PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi after the 2022 PSSI Ordinary Congress in Bandung (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - PSSI has confirmed that the 2022-2023 Indonesian League 1 and 2022 Indonesian League 2 will use the format before the COVID-19 pandemic or return to using the old format, and this is one of the results of the decision of the 2022 PSSI Ordinary Congress in Bandung, Monday.

"League 1 2022-2023 will return home and away. Liga 2 2023 will use the two-region format as before," said PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan at the congress quoted from Antara.

In 2021, Liga 1 will take place in a series format where all matches will be played in a certain area due to the uncontrolled COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

For the same reason, Liga 2 2021 will be held in a group stage format. Both Liga 1 and Liga 2 at that time implemented a bubble policy and without spectators in stadiums to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Meanwhile, starting the latest season in 2022, all league matches can be watched by the public directly at the stadium but with certain conditions.

According to Iriawan, the number of spectators in the arena will be adjusted to the PPKM conditions in each region.

"Regarding this, we are waiting for a coordination meeting with Menpora Zainudin Amali," said the man who is familiarly called Iwan Bule.

But PSSI has not decided when Liga 1 and 2 will rotate. Iriawan himself gave the 2022-2023 Liga 1 kickoff timeframe on one day in the 23-27 July timeframe.

Like previous seasons, Liga 2 usually starts two weeks after the start of League 1.

The PSSI Ordinary Congress took place around 14.00-16.45 WIB which was opened by Menpora Zainudin Amali and attended by representatives of KONI, KOI, FIFA, AFC and AFF.

The 2022 PSSI Ordinary Congress resulted in several decisions including the matter of the format of Liga 1 and Liga 2 as well as changing the names of several clubs.