COVID-19 Vaccination Becomes An Absolute Requirement In Liga 1 Season 2021-2022

PSIS Semarang (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - President Director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) Akhmad Hadian Lukita said the COVID-19 vaccination would be a requirement for all involved in the implementation of the 2021-2022 Liga 1 season.

"Vaccines will be mandatory. Anyone who enters the arena must have a valid vaccine card," Akhmad Hadian said in a virtual press conference Wednesday, as reported by Antara.

He said that this is what makes LIB re-collect data for all parties, including players who will compete in Liga 1 2021-2022.

Later, according to him, in the player registration form that will be submitted by the club, there will be an additional column explaining if they have been vaccinated or not, as well as information if they have received it once or twice. This also applies to all foreign players.

"Foreign players must have been vaccinated, with proven verifiable data. In the last Menpora Cup, we have given vaccines to several foreign players, and that was facilitated by the Indonesian government," said Akhmad Hadian.

Meanwhile, the Director of Operations of LIB who is also the Head of the COVID-19 Task Force for Liga 1 and 2, Sudjarno, said that for players, his party still provides opportunities for those who have not received the vaccine.

For them, LIB will include them in the vaccination program in the midst of the competition.

"If you haven't been vaccinated, when there is a vaccination schedule during the competition, we will include it," said Sudjarno.

However, LIB emphasized that having been vaccinated did not mean that it was free from health protocol rules. COVID-19 prevention procedures remain in effect for every name involved in the league.

"The protocol is like, all team members must be tested negative for COVID-19 before leaving their respective places. Then when they arrive at the hotel that has been prepared, they will be tested again, if they are negative they just enter the hotel. If they are positive, they will be separated. Then "On match day, around 09.00-10.00 WIB, everything will be swabbed again. These tests are financed by the LIB. That way, we hope that there will be no COVID-19 cluster in football, "explained Sudjarno.

The LIB also asks for the cooperation of all clubs to maintain discipline during the league. The players, coaches and officials were asked to take care of each other and not break the rules. The actions of the league participants will continue to be monitored by the League 1 COVID-19 Task Force.

Akhmad Hadian emphasized that if you violated it, there would be sanctions, at least not being allowed to enter the arena.

"Of course the club will lose if there are players who cannot enter the match venue. We remind you, not because of one or two people, this league is labeled as not good," he added.

The Indonesian League 1 season 2021-2022 will be held from August 20, 2021 to March 2022.

The format of the 2021-2022 Liga 1 implementation has not changed from the original plan, which was held in six series and held in three clusters.

The first cluster covers DKI Jakarta, West Java and Banten. The second cluster, namely Central Java and DI Yogyakarta, then the third cluster in East Java.

After the certainty of Liga 1, PSSI and LIB will then roll out League 2. However, the implementation time and technical implementation will be confirmed later.