Liga 1 Permits Are Still Being Processed By The Police, Involving The Minister Of Youth And Sports, BNPB And The COVID-19 Task Force

Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Headquarters Inspector General Pol Argo Yuwono (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Pol Argo Yuwono said that the permit for the 2021-2022 Liga 1 competition, which is planned to start on August 27, 2021, is still in the process of involving related parties.

"At this time (the permit) is still in process," said Argo when confirmed by Antara, Wednesday, August 11.

According to Argo, in issuing the permit to organize Liga 1, the Police involved other parties, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as the COVID-19 Task Force.

This coordination is needed because the current situation is still in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with the increase in daily positive cases in the Java-Bali region so that the government implements the Implementation of the Java-Bali Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) which is the venue for the Indonesian football competition.

"It's still in the process, of course the Police must involve permission from others, from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, from BNPB and so on," said Argo.

The former Head of Public Relations of the Polda Metro Jaya also promised to provide a special press statement regarding the Liga 1 permit in the near future, together with the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali.

"The league will give its own press conference later. Later with the Minister of Youth and Sports, it means that later we will provide information to our friends when we will give permission," said Argo.

Indeed, the Liga 1 permit from the National Police had been given by the National Police Chief Gen. Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo to the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali at the end of May 2021.

However, the permit is for Liga 1 which will be held in early July 2021.

As is known, the schedule was finally postponed until August 2021 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, especially in Java and Bali.

Previously, Assistant Chief of the National Police for Operations (Asops Kapolri) Inspector General Iman Sugianto said that the League 1 permit was waiting for a recommendation from the COVID-19 Task Force.

According to him, if the permit has been approved by the COVID-19 Task Force, the Police will have no reason to withhold the permit for Liga 1 which is taking place in the midst of a pandemic.

"Principally, the National Police is waiting for the confirmation of the COVID-19 Task Force, because there must be a recommendation. The second is related to the local area. What will the COVID-19 Task Force recommend later. If that's okay, the Police have no reason not to help issue (permits)," said Imam, Wednesday (4/8).

Menpora Zainudin Amali stated that Liga 1 will start on 27 August 2021.

The Indonesian League 1 season 2021-2022 will be held from August 27, 2021 to March 2022.

The format for implementing Liga 1 2021-2022 has not changed from the original plan, which was held in six series with matches taking place in three clusters in the Java Island region.

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