Menpora Do Not Intervene In 2020 League 1 Permit Issues

Menpora Zainudin Amali (left) with Menparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno (right) (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali, stated that he would not interfere with the granting of permits for the continuation of the League 1 season 2020 because this decision was within the authority of the National Police.

Kemenpora, said Zainudin, can only provide recommendations so that national sports competitions can resume rolling back, provided that the organizers can guarantee the health and safety of all participants with a detailed and comprehensive health protocol design.

"We try to provide encouragement and support. But when it comes to crowd permits, it is no longer our area, ”said Zainudin at a virtual press conference as reported by Antara, Tuesday.

PSSI plans to hold an internal meeting in mid-January to discuss the fate of the continuation of Liga 1 and Liga 2 in the 2020 season. At this meeting, PSSI will discuss various possibilities, including the option of canceling the competition if the National Police does not issue a crowd permit.

If this was not given his blessing, Zainudin said that his party believed in the Police's decision. He believes the police have considerations on which to base their decision not to issue permits, considering that the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia is still high.

PSSI and PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) as operators are not the only ones planning to hold a league in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Basketball League (IBL) and Proliga will also be rolling out competitions after stopping the 2020 season.

The IBL is scheduled to start on January 15th, while the Proliga will be on January 31st, with both to take place using a bubble system and without spectators. The national basketball and volleyball competition has reportedly received permission from the police.

Responding to the news, Zainudin reminded not to let the issue of licensing to organize competitions later become a debate, because licensing is fully under the authority of the police.

"Because we can't ask why, why not and so on. It will be a debate and become a problem again, "he said.

"If there are those that are permitted or if there are those that are not fully permitted, it is the authority of the permit issuer. Of course, the licensor has a basis for determining policies or decisions, "concluded Zainudin.