The fog of uncertainty surrounding the state of Indonesian football has been lifted slightly on Wednesday. The Indonesian Police have hinted on a webinar that they might give the 2021 Liga 1 Indonesia season the green light, should the Football Federation of Indonesia (PSSI) provide the police with enough confidence that they could hold the 2021 Indonesian football season safely within the ongoing pandemic.
The webinar in question was titled “The Hope for Indonesian Sport Amidst the Pandemic,” which was held on Wednesday by the Central Union of Indonesian Journalists. Among the webinar’s speakers was Police Grand Commissioner Budi Sajidin of the Indonesian Police’s Security Intelligence Bureau, who delivered the news that Indonesian football has been anxiously waiting for.
“Yesterday I’ve received information from the Operations Assistant of the Indonesian Chief of Police, Inspector General Imam Sugiarto. He said that there’s a possibility that the 2021 Liga 1 Indonesia season can be held. This decision was made after some consideration,” said Budi, “We hope that other sports in Indonesia, such as volleyball and basketball, can receive the green light to be held as well.”
Budi also added that in order for the Liga 1 and other sporting events to return to the Indonesian public, they must be held without any spectators, a norm in sporting events affected by COVID-19 around the world.
The PSSI were asked to write a letter to the Indonesian Police Headquarters requesting a recommendation for the 2021 Liga 1 season to held, with similar letters being sent to both the Indonesian Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Indonesian COVID-19 Taskforce.
“Please inform the Indonesian Police HQ about the proposal to hold the 2021 Liga 1 season with a list of stringent health protocol requirements attached to the letter. We also request the PSSI to send us the letter of recommendation from the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Indonesian National Sports Committee, and the COVID-19 Taskforce so that we can discuss on whether we can allow the 2021 Liga 1 season to be held or not,” continued Budi, as quoted from Bolalob.
League operators PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) are anticipating the approval from the police to hold the 2021 Indonesian football season and in preparation for that they are currently designing a football match scenario simulation with all relevant health protocols being implemented and practiced. This simulation will be held this February and Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the Indonesian Chief of Police, is scheduled to attend the simulation.