Pressing The Spike In COVID-19 Cases In Clubs, PT LIB Implements A Full Bubble System

JAKARTA - The increasingly massive spread of the COVID-19 virus has recently had an impact on the continuity of the 2021/2022 League 1 competition. A number of clubs participating in the competition have even begun to busy reporting their players who have tested positive for the corona virus.

Based on this situation, PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) as the organizer plans to implement a full bubble system. Although it has not been explained in detail, this system is believed to be more stringent than the current semi-bubble system.

PT LIB's Director of Operations, Sudjarno, said the implementation of this system was an improvement from the previous semi-bubble system in order to suppress the spread of the virus. Sudjarno added that his party would cooperate with local residents to monitor this.

"The full bubble, which we will implement in the accommodation (clubs) of each, is expected to be able to implement it," said Sudjarno in a virtual press conference on Wednesday, February 2.

"Including, later LIB will create a scheme in collaboration with local wisdom to maintain the team's accommodations," he continued.

Furthermore, Sudjarno said that his party had not applied a fine if a club violated the health protocol (prokes). Even so, he feels that the club will lose itself if the players violate and are exposed to COVID-19.

"We have not applied a fine related to it, but if it happens (violating) the loss is the club itself," he continued.

"Because they are the ones who finance the players, then they will lose themselves if they don't play," he added.

On the other hand, the threat of COVID-19 is indeed looming over the League 1 competition. Because a number of clubs are in a player crisis because many have tested positive. Most recently, the PSM Makassar vs Persib Bandung match was also forced to be postponed because Maung Bandung only had 13 players left.

Before the Persib vs PSM match was postponed, the Persipura Jayapura vs Madura United match was also postponed due to the same thing. Although a number of matches have been postponed, PT LIB has yet to announce when a replacement match will be held.