Liga 1 Receives DIY Police Support And Will Be Broadcast Virtually

League 1 match illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - PSSI and PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) have agreed to hold the competition again in October and will be centered in Java. Teams outside Java will be stationed in Yogyakarta to facilitate transportation and minimize the possibility of being exposed to COVID-19.

LIB also welcomes Java island teams who want to move their headquarters, especially those who are in the red zone of COVID-19.

The Maguwoharjo Sleman Stadium will be used by PSS Sleman, Persiraja Banda Aceh, Borneo FC, and PSM Makassar, while the teams that will use the Sultan Agung Bantul Stadium are Bali United and Persija Jakarta.

On Tuesday night, July 28, LIB received support from the Yogyakarta Special Region Police to hold a League 1 follow-up. LIB officials, including the main director Akhmad Hadian Lukita and Operational Director Sudjarno, met with the Yogyakarta Regional Police Chief in Sleman to discuss the implementation of League 1.

"We will provide full support and are ready to secure the agenda," said Yogyakarta Police Chief Inspector General Asep Suhendar, quoted from Antara.

Previously, LIB had conducted verification in two stadiums in Yogyakarta used in League 1, namely the Sultan Agung Stadium (Bantul) and the Maguwoharjo Stadium (Sleman).

"We inform the Chief of Police that Yogyakarta is one of the ideal cities for continued competition. Here, the facilities and infrastructure of the stadium and the area are very supportive. The location is also in the middle of Java Island," said Sudjarno.

Meanwhile, the Yogyakarta Special Region Government stated that it is ready to help so that the continued implementation of League 1 can be enjoyed virtually by fans at their respective homes.

"I am happy that there is football in Yogyakarta, several stadiums are the venue. But my advice is that you should not use spectators who come directly but the audience is virtual spectators," said Regional Secretary (Sekda) DIY Kadarmanta Baskara Aji at Gedhong Pracimasana.

Even though the operating licenses are in Bantul Regency and Sleman Regency, according to him, there is nothing wrong if all parties take care to avoid the transmission of COVID-19.

"What's so bad if we take care of it, then the audience is not a live audience but a virtual audience," he said.

If necessary, according to him, JITV (Jogja Istimewa TV) is ready to support by providing live streaming facilities or facilities so that football matches can be watched virtually.