SURYA.co.id | DENPASAR – Persebaya Surabaya coach, Aji Santoso gave input regarding the implementation of the 2021-2022 BRI Liga 1 competition in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. If a maximum of 5 team players are positive for Covid-19, the match must be postponed.
Unlike the provisions of PSSI and PT LIB so far, which requires a team of at least 14 players to be able to hold matches even though some of the players are positive for Covid-19.
Aji Santoso considered that the requirement was too heavy for a team with a lot of positive Covid-19 players.
As experienced by Persebaya Surabaya during a 0-0 draw against PSIS Semarang (2/2/2022), Persebaya was only strengthened by 15 players.
As a result, the players who were forced to enter the line-up were players who had just recovered from Covid-19, and several young players, in that match Persebaya Surabaya did not make any substitutions.
The latest Madura United vs Persela Lamongan match yesterday, two teams appeared with minimal squads. Madura United has 14 players, Persela 13 players (two players who are not positive for Covid-19 are injured).
In that provision, players who are not positive for Covid-19 despite an injury situation will still be counted as part and enter the line-up as a minimum requirement of 14 players.
Even the two teams were not led by their head coach because they were positive for Covid-19.
“Playing at least has 14 players, this in my opinion needs to be evaluated. I think if there is a team that gets a maximum of 5 positive players, it (the match) should be postponed,” said Aji Santoso.
“Why? Maintaining the quality of the competition, with some players not playing, the quality of the game will definitely go down, there will definitely be a difference when there is a really complete team,” added Aji Santoso.
