Good News, Police Issue Licenses For League 1 And League 2

Illustration - PSSi Annual Congress 2021 (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - There is good news for football lovers in Indonesia. The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has issued a permit for the crowds of the League 1 and League 2 football championships.

"Insha Allah (permit) has been granted," said Assistant Chief of the National Police for Operations (Asops) Inspector General Imam Sugianto as quoted by Antara, Monday.

Previously, the National Police planned to issue permits for Liga 1 and Liga 2 Indonesia on 27 May 2021.

According to Imam, the Indonesian League competition permit was granted after taking into account several aspects and recommendations that had been studied so far by his party.

"Recommendations are collected and permission will be given according to the direction of the National Police Chief," said Imam.

Meanwhile, Imam previously mentioned that the implementation of Liga 1 and Liga 2 could refer to the 2021 Menpora Cup pre-season tournament which will take place March 21-25 April.

According to the man who once served as an aide to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), the Menpora Cup was considered a success by the Police in terms of organizing and preventing COVID-19.

However, for League 1 and League 2, Imam reminded that more effort is needed because of the longer implementation time.

PSSI plans to hold Liga 1 2021-2022 starting in early July 2021, between the 3rd and 7th, until March 2022.

While Liga 2 will start 14 days after the start of Liga 1 and is projected to end in December 2021.

PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan ensured that the Indonesian League 1 football competition for the 2021-2022 season was held centrally on the island of Java in July 2021-March 2022.

Liga 1 will take place centered on the island of Java and will be carried out in a full league format, home and away. The 2021 Liga 2 season starts 14 days after the start of Liga 1 and lasts until December.

"For League 2 we will close again. The plan is that there are four regions to host, such as Palembang, Riau, South Tangerang and so on," said Iriawan.

The man who is usually called Iwan Bule also confirmed that his party will make the 2021 Menpora Cup as a benchmark for the implementation of the latest League 1 and League 2 seasons.

A number of parties who play a role in the plan for this Indonesian soccer championship include the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Health, BNPB, the COVID-19 Task Force, and the National Police.

Permission from the police is important. Because, if the permit is not issued, then there will be no Indonesian League football championship.