Indonesian football league system

Logo for Djarum Liga Super Indonesia

Logo for Djarum Liga Super Indonesia

Liga Indonesia is a term used for the current football competition system in Indonesia since 1994, as a result of two existing top flight football leagues merger: Perserikatan (amateur) and Galatama (semi professional). Liga Indonesia is managed by PSSI, the Indonesian national football federation.

There are 5 levels of competition in the hierarchy. The top three in the hierarchy are professional and semi-professional competitions, whereas the rest are amateur.

History

Prior to 1979, Indonesia had an amateur national football league system, namely Perserikatan, which consisted several levels of competition.

In 1979/80, a semi-professional league was founded, namely Galatama (English: The Premier League), which was consisted of only one level of competition (except 1983 and 1990 in which it involved 2 divisions). Therefore, since 1979, both Galatama and Perserikatan were existed and had their own league systems.

In 1994, the PSSI merged both competitions into a new competition system, namely the Liga Indonesia. All clubs from both top level leagues were merged into the Liga Indonesia Premier Division, the new system's top flight league. Furthermore, since Galatama did not have a lower level leagues, Liga Indonesia's lower leagues took all clubs from the same level in Perserikatan.

In 2008, the PSSI created a new level, the Indonesia Super League (ISL), as the system's new top flight league. Hence, the Premier Division was then relegated to the second and so on. This new league was created to introduce full professionalism in Indonesian football.

In parallel with this league, U-21 teams from each participating ISL clubs compete in the ISL U-21.

Competition format

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 the 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 league's popularity has grown so much that the 2006-2007 season will see another big expansion of the league from 28 to 36 clubs with both divisions comprising 18 clubs each.

In 2008, 18 top ranked clubs in the previous Premier Division were 'promoted' to a new highest level of competition, the Indonesia Super League, and the rest stayed in the same division. The PSSI examined those 18 clubs for their readiness to join the ISL, considering many aspects, like the stadium, financial condition and other requirements for full professional football clubs.

Current system

Level	League/Division
Professional League
1	Indonesia Super League (Djarum Indonesia Super League) 18 clubs									Reserve Super League (Djarum ISL U-21) 18 clubs
2	Premier Division (Liga Ti-phone)
	West Region 13 clubs						Central Region 13 clubs						East Region 13 clubs
Amateur Football League
3	First Division
	Group I 5 clubs		Group II 6 clubs		Group III 5 clubs	Group IV 6 clubs	Group V 5 clubs	Group VI 5 clubs		Group VII 5 clubs		Group VIII 5 clubs	Group IX 5 clubs	Group X 4 clubs	Group XI 3 clubs		Group XII 4 clubs
4	Second Division (for under-23 player)
	Group I 5 clubs	Group II 4 clubs	Group III 5 clubs	Group IV 4 clubs	Group V 4 clubs	Group VI 5 clubs	Group VII 4 clubs	Group VIII 4 clubs	Group IX 4 clubs	Group X 4 clubs	Group XI 4 clubs	Group XII 4 clubs	Group XIII 5 clubs	Group XIV 4 clubs	Group XV 5 clubs	Group XVI 4 clubs	Group XVII 5 clubs	Group XVIII 4 clubs
5	Third Division 33 Regions 369 clubs (for under-20 player)

Cup competition

• Indonesia Cup
• Inter Island Cup

Notable players

• Mario Kempes
• Roger Milla
• Mohd Safee Mohd Sali
• Maboang Kessack
• Jeremie Mbog Nyetam
• Fandi Ahmad
• Josef Masopust
• Jacksen Tiago
• Bambang Pamungkas

Championship history

Main article: List of Indonesian football champions

See also: List of Indonesian football competitions all time top scorers

Since the establishment of Liga Indonesia in 1994, Persipura Jayapura, Persebaya Surabaya and Persik Kediri are considered as the most successful clubs in this competition system with each 2 titles. Arema Indonesia (formerly known as Arema or Arema Malang is the defending champion (2009-10).

See also

• Indonesian Futsal League
• Piala Indonesia
• Indonesian Women Football Tournament

External links

• Template:Id icon Official website of Liga Indonesia
• Template:Id icon Official website of PSSI
• Template:Id icon Liga Indonesia News