Indonesian football league system

File:LigaDjarum.jpg

Liga Djarum Indonesia 2005

The Liga Indonesia is a league competition for Indonesian football clubs located at the top of the Indonesian football league system. Liga Indonesia is officially the Indonesian football league system itself, but more commonly used to refer to the league's premier division, Divisi Utama. Liga Indonesia is the top football competition of Indonesia.

Overview

The top 28 football clubs, split into two divisions, in the Indonesian league system compete in Liga Indonesia. It was established in 1994, when the semi-professional Liga Sepakbola Utama (Galatama) and amateur competition Perserikatan merged to form the professional Liga Indonesia. Most of the players in the league are of Indonesian origin, however some international footballers do play in Liga Indonesia.

The competition

From the 1994-1995 to 2004-2005 season, Liga Indonesia's structure changed almost every year. For some seasons, there were two divisions within the top flight; for others, there were three. The number of clubs in top flight wavered from 18-28, and seasons would last from 34-38 games. The top four clubs in each division qualified for a group stage "Final Eight Championship Playoff." Winners of the group faced off for the championship.

During the 2004-2005 season, 18 clubs comprised the Indonesian top flight. A season lasted 34 games, in which each club played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The three teams at the bottom of the table are relegated into Division Satu, the second level of the Indonesian league system, while the three teams of Division Satu that won promotion replace them. The top two finishers in the league qualify for the AFC Champions League.

Starting with the 2003-2004 season, the championship was decided a double round-robin league system involving the top clubs of each division. Beginning with the 2005-2006 season, 28 clubs will comprise Liga Indonesia. Clubs compete in two divisions of 14 clubs each. Each club plays against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top two clubs qualify for the AFC Champions League.

Sponsorship

Liga Indonesia has been sponsored since its inception in 1994. Sponsors determine the league's sponsorship name.

• 1994-1996: Dunhill (Liga Dunhill)
• 1997: Kansas (Liga Kansas)
• 1997-1999: No sponsor (Liga Indonesia)
• 1999-2004: Bank Mendiri (Liga Bank Mediri)
• 2004-: Djarum (Liga Djarum Indonesia)

Liga Indonesia clubs, 2005-2006

Wilaya Barat

Club
Persija
PSIS Semarang
Persib Maung Bandung
Arema Malang
Persekabpas Pasuruan
PSS Sleman
PSDS Lubuk Pakam
Persikota Kabup. Tangerang
Delta Putra Sidoarjo
Persita Tangerang
Semen Padang
Sriwijaya FC Palembang
PSPS Pekanbaru
PSMS Medan

Wilaya Timur

Club
Persipura Jayapura
PSM Makassar
Persik Kediri
Persiba Balikpapan
Persebaya Surabaya
Persegi Gianyar
PKT Bontang
Persema Malang
Persmin Minahasa
Petrokimia Gresik
Pelita Krakatau Steel Cilegon
Persela Lamongan
Persibom Kotamobagu
Persijap Jepara

Notes

• The three clubs that were to be relegated after bottom finishes during the 2004-2005 season stayed up because of the new 28-club top division system.

Past Liga Indonesia champions

Season	Winner	Total wins*	Runner-up
1994-95	Persib Bandung	1	Petrokimia Putra Gresik
1995-96	Bandung Raya	1	PSM Makassar
1996-97	Persebaya Surabaya	1	Bandung Raya
1997-98	Season unfinished
1998-99	PSIS Semarang	1	Persebaya Surabaya
1999-2000	PSM Makassar	1	Pupuk Kaltim Bontang
2000-01	Persija	1	PSM Makassar
2001-02	Petrokimia Putra Gresik	1	Persita Tangerang
2002-03	Persik	1	PSM Makassar
2003-04	Persebaya Surabaya	2	PSM Makassar

External links

• Liga Indonesia