Says Broadcasting Rights Holders Have A Role In Formulating League 1 Night Schedule, PT LIB's Managing Director: They say, At That Hour The Audience Is Relaxed At Home

JAKARTA - Riots at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang on Saturday night resulted in the death of more than 120 people. The President Director of the New Indonesia League (LIB) Akhmad Hadian Lukita once said that the League 1 night schedule follows the broadcasting rights holders.

The issue of tonight's schedule has actually been criticized by several clubs before the 2022-2023 Indonesian League 1 rolled out.

Teams such as Persib and Persebaya consider the night schedule, which starts at 20.00 WIB or 20.30 WIB, to be detrimental to them because it can interfere with the health of players.

At that time, competition operator PT LIB acknowledged that broadcasting rights holders played a role in the preparation of the schedule.

"It is undeniable that the element of broadcasting rights holders must be followed in preparing the schedule. They say, at that time the audience is relaxed at home while waiting for a break," said LIB President Director Akhmad Hadian Lukita in July 2022, as quoted by Antara, Monday.

Meanwhile, PSSI is considering advancing the schedule for the 2022-2023 Indonesian Liga 1-night match following the riot at the Kanjuruhan Stadium.

"After the incident, there were several opinions that expressed a desire to speed up the schedule or the match was not held late at night. This is a good consideration and must be accommodated by PSSI and LIB," said PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi at the Bung Karno Madya Stadium, Jakarta. , quoted from Antara, Monday.

According to Yunus, the schedule for the 2022-2023 Indonesian Liga 1 has been agreed upon by all competition stakeholders including LIB, PSSI, sponsors, and the match organizing committee.

However, he did not deny that there were several conditions that disrupted security, especially at night matches.

"Indeed, on the way, there are things that are not good, especially related to security," said Yunus.

The riots at Kanjuruhan Stadium began when thousands of Arema FC supporters, Aremania, pushed into the field after their favorite team lost 2-3 to Persebaya. The match starts at 20.00 WIB.

The police then fired tear gas inside the pitch which left many supporters unconscious and having difficulty breathing.

The fallen supporters created panic in the stadium area and scrambled to find a way out. They complained of shortness of breath from tear gas and were trampled when they tried to leave the stadium stands.

As of Sunday at 15.45 WIB, the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team of the National Police recorded that 125 people had lost their lives as a result of the incident.

Starting last Sunday, LIB has decided to postpone the 2022-2023 Indonesian Liga 1 for one week.