The Indonesian football league system is a series of league system for association football clubs in Indonesia. Since 1994, Liga Indonesia is the league competition featuring association football clubs, 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, and operated by I-League and its previous iterations (Badan Liga Indonesia (BLI) from 1994 to 2008, PT Liga Indonesia (PT. LI) from 2008 to 2015, Badan Liga Amatir Indonesia (BLAI) from 2009 to 2014 (Lower-Tier Competition Operator), PT Liga Prima Indonesia Sportindo (PT. LPIS) from 2011 to 2013 (Dualism Competition Operator), PT Gelora Trisula Semesta (PT. GTS) from 2016 (Unofficial Competition Operator) and PT Liga Indonesia Baru (PT. LIB) from 2017 to 2025).
There are four levels of competition in the hierarchy recently. The top two tiers are professional competitions, the third tier is semi-professional, and the fourth tier is amateur.
Structure
Super League is the first-tier of football league in Indonesia, formerly known as Liga 1 from 2017 until 2025. The second-tier is Championship, formerly Premier Division until 2014 and Liga 2 until 2025. The third-tier is Liga Nusantara, formerly Liga 3. Super League and Championship are professional leagues, while Liga Nusantara operates at a semi-professional level. All three leagues are operated by I-League, which also organizes the youth competition, Elite Pro Academy.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Perserikatan<br />(organized by PSSI)
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Dutch East Indies Championship<br />(organized by NIVB)<br />(1914–1950)
|}
Post-independence
Perserikatan and Galatama
The first national competition organized by PSSI after independence was Perserikatan in 1951, an amateur league that brought together teams based on regions or cities in Indonesia. Historically, Perserikatan was the successor competition that replaced the Stedenwedstrijden, which had previously been organized by ISNIS (Ikatan Sepak Raga Negara Indonesia Serikat). Perserikatan served as the main platform of Indonesian football until the late 1970s.
In 1979–80, a semi-professional league was founded, namely Galatama (Premier League), which 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.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Perserikatan
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Galatama
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
2
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Perserikatan First Division<br />(since 1978)
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Galatama First Division<br />(1980, 1983, and 1990 only)
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
3
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Perserikatan Second Division<br />(since 1987)
|
|}
1994–2008: Liga Indonesia
In 1994, 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 lower-level leagues, Liga Indonesia's lower leagues took all clubs from the same level in Perserikatan. PSSI formed Badan Liga Indonesia to operate the new Liga Indonesia.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Indonesia Super League
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Indonesian Premier League
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
2
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Liga Indonesia Premier Division (LI)
| colspan="9" width="48%" |Liga Indonesia Premier Division (LPIS)
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
3
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Indonesia First Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
4
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Indonesia Second Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
5
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Indonesia Third Division
|}
2014–2015: Dualism ended and FIFA sanction
In 2014, PSSI divided into four level leagues competition include Super League, Premier Division, First Division and Amateur League/Province League called Liga Nusantara.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Indonesia Super League
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
2
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Indonesia Premier Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
3
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Indonesia First Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
4
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Nusantara
|}
Started in 2015 league planned just divided into three level leagues competition include Super League, Premier Division and Liga Nusantara, after first division merged with Liga Nusantara.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Indonesia Super League
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
2
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Indonesia Premier Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
3
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Nusantara
|}
However, the league season in 2015 was paused at first due to threats of sanctions from Badan Olahraga Profesional Indonesia (BOPI) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports on PSSI and PT LI because two ISL clubs, Arema and Persebaya, didn't get BOPI recommendations. This got FIFA's attention who threatened to ban Indonesian football altogether due to external meddling from BOPI and the Ministry in PSSI affairs. After the Ministry outright froze PSSI out from organizing football competitions in Indonesia, FIFA sanctioned PSSI on 30 May 2015 hence the competition was then discontinued. PT Liga Indonesia was then closed by PSSI in 2016. PSSI formed PT. Liga Indonesia Baru as the new league operator for Liga 1 and Liga 2 while Liga 3 is under PSSI and its local branches.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga 1
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
2
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga 2
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
3
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga 3
|}
In 2024, PSSI plans to create a new level, namely the Liga 4 as the fourth division level that will be operated by PSSI and its local branches. In addition, PSSI announced that Liga 3 will be renamed to Liga Nusantara and will be operated by PT. Liga Indonesia Baru, which also operates Liga 1 and Liga 2.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga 1
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
2
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga 2
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
3
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Nusantara
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
4
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga 4
|}
In 2025, PT. Liga Indonesia Baru rebranded Liga 1 and Liga 2 as the Super League and the Championship, respectively. Additionally, PT. LIB rebranded itself as the I-League.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan="1" width="4%" |
Level
!colspan="18" width="96%" |
League/Division
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
1
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Super League
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
2
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Championship
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
3
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga Nusantara
|-
|colspan="1" width="4%" |
4
| colspan="18" width="96%" |Liga 4
|}
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 to 28, and seasons would last from 34 to 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.
Promotion and relegation
- Super League (level 1, 18 teams): the bottom three teams are relegated to Championship
- Championship (level 2, 20 teams): the champions, runner-up and third-place teams are promoted to Super League. The three worst teams will be relegated to Liga Nusantara.
- Liga Nusantara (level 3, 24 teams): the champions, runner-up and third-place teams are promoted to Championship. The six worst teams will be relegated to Liga 4.
- Liga 4 (level 4, unlimited number of teams): Six-best teams are promoted to Liga Nusantara.
Cup competitions
Annual cup tournaments
- Piala Liga for Galatama clubs (1985–1989)
- Piala Galatama for Galatama clubs (1992–1993)
- Copa Indonesia (2005–2009)
- Piala Indonesia (2010–present)
- Indonesia League Cup (2026–present)
Annual super cup tournaments
- Galatama-Perserikatan National Invitation (1985)
- Piala Utama (1990 & 1992)
- Copa Super Cup (2006–2008)
- Indonesian Community Shield (2009–2013)
Break season tournaments
- Soeharto President's Cup for Perserikatan clubs (1972–1976)
- Inter Island Cup (2010–2014)
- Menpora Cup (2013 & 2021)
- Indonesia President's Cup (2015–present)
All tier champions by season
1930–1950
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Season
! Inlandsche Stedenwedstrijden
|-
|align=center|1930<br>(unofficial)
|VIJ Batavia
|-
|align=center|1931
|VIJ Batavia
|-
|align=center|1932
|PSIM Yogyakarta
|-
|align=center|1933
|VIJ Batavia
|-
|align=center|1934
|VIJ Batavia
|-
|align=center|1935
|Persis Solo
|-
|align=center|1936
|Persis Solo
|-
|align=center|1937
|Persib Bandung
|-
|align=center|1938
|VIJ Batavia
|-
|align=center|1939
|Persis Solo
|-
|align=center|1940
|Persis Solo
|-
|align=center|1941
|Persis Solo
|-
|align=center|1942
|Persis Solo
|-
|align=center|1943
|Persis Solo
|-
|align=center|1944–49
| Not held
|-
|align=center|1950<br>(unofficial)
|Persib Bandung
|}
1951–1978
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Season
! Perserikatan
|-
|align=center|1951
|Persebaya Surabaya
|-
|align=center|1952
|Persebaya Surabaya
|-
|align=center|1953–54
|Persija Jakarta
|-
|align=center|1955–57
|PSM Makassar
|-
|align=center|1957–59
|PSM Makassar
|-
|align=center|1959–61
|Persib Bandung
|-
|align=center|1962–64
|Persija Jakarta
|-
|align=center|1964–65
|PSM Makassar
|-
|align=center|1965–66
|PSM Makassar
|-
|align=center|1966–67
|PSMS Medan
|-
|align=center|1968–69
|PSMS Medan
|-
|align=center|1969–71
|PSMS Medan
|-
|align=center|1971–73
|Persija Jakarta
|-
|align=center|1973–75
| Persija Jakarta and PSMS Medan
|-
|align=center|1975–78
|Persebaya Surabaya
|}
1978–1994
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"| Season
! style="width:18%;"| Perserikatan
! style="width:18%;"|
! style="width:18%;"|
|-
|align=center|1978–79
|Persija Jakarta
|Persipura Jayapura
|rowspan="7" align="center" | No competition
|-
|align=center|1980
|Persiraja Banda Aceh
|align="center"| Not held
|-
|align=center|1981–82
|align="center"| Not held
|PSIS Semarang
|-
|align=center|1983
|PSMS Medan
|align="center"| Not held
|-
|align=center|1984
|align="center"|Not held
| Perseman Manokwari
|-
|align=center|1985
|PSMS Medan
|Persiba Balikpapan
|-
|align=center|1986
|Persib Bandung
|align="center"| Not held
|-
|align=center|1986–87
|PSIS Semarang
|PSDS Deli Serdang
|Persijatim East Jakarta
|-
|align=center|1987–88
|Persebaya Surabaya
|Persita Tangerang
|Persijasel South Jakarta
|-
|align=center|1988–89
| colspan="3" align="center"|Not held
|-
|align=center|1989–90
|Persib Bandung
|Persema Malang
|PSIR Rembang
|-
|align=center|1990–91
| colspan="3" align="center"|Not held
|-
|align=center|1991–92
|PSM Makassar
|PS Bengkulu
|Perseden Denpasar
|-
|align=center|1992–93
| colspan="3" align="center"|Not held
|-
|align=center|1993–94
|Persib Bandung
|Persipura Jayapura
|Persis Solo
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Season
! Galatama
! Galatama First Division
|-
|align=center| 1979–80
| Warna Agung
| Angkasa
|-
|align=center| 1980–82
| NIAC Mitra
| align="center" |No competition
|-
|align=center| 1982–83
| NIAC Mitra
| Semen Padang
|-
|align=center| 1983–84
| Yanita Utama
| align=center rowspan="6"| No competition
|-
|align=center| 1984
| Yanita Utama
|-
|align=center| 1985
| Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian
|-
|align=center| 1986–87
| Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian
|-
|align=center| 1987–88
| NIAC Mitra
|-
|align=center| 1988–89
| Pelita Jaya
|-
|align=center| 1990
| Pelita Jaya
| Assyabaab Surabaya
|-
|align=center| 1990–92
| Arseto
| align=center rowspan="3"| No competition
|-
|align=center| 1992–93
| Arema Malang
|-
|align=center| 1993–94
| Pelita Jaya
|}
1994–2004
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|Premier Division
! style="width:18%;"|First Division
! style="width:18%;"|Second Division
|-
|align=center|1994–95
|Persib Bandung
|Persikab Bandung
|Persikabo Bogor
|-
|align=center|1995–96
|Bandung Raya
|PSP Padang
|Persikota Tangerang
|-
|align=center|1996–97
|Persebaya Surabaya
|Persikota Tangerang
|Persipal Palu
|-
|align=center|1997–98
|colspan="3" align="center"| Competition abandoned due to political conditions
|-
|align=center|1998–99
|PSIS Semarang
|PSPS Riau
|PS Palembang
|-
|align=center|1999–2000
|PSM Makassar
|Persita Tangerang
|Persik Kediri
|-
|align=center|2001
|Persija Jakarta
|PSIS Semarang
|Persela Lamongan
|-
|align=center|2002
|Petrokimia Putra
|Persik Kediri
|Persid Jember
|-
|align=center|2003
|Persik Kediri
|Persebaya Surabaya
|Persekabpas Pasuruan
|-
|align=center|2004
|Persebaya Surabaya
|Arema
|Persibo Bojonegoro
|-
|}
2005–2008
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|Premier Division
! style="width:18%;"|First Division
! style="width:18%;"|Second Division
! style="width:18%;"|Third Division
|-
|align=center|2005
|Persipura Jayapura
|PSIM Yogyakarta
|Persiku Kudus
|PSIR Rembang
|-
|align=center|2006
|Persik Kediri
|Persebaya Surabaya
|PSIR Rembang
|Perseta Tulungagung
|-
|align=center|2007–08
|Sriwijaya
|Persibo Bojonegoro
|Persires Rengat
|Persem Mojokerto
|-
|}
2008–2011
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|
! style="width:18%;"|Premier Division
! style="width:18%;"|First Division
! style="width:18%;"|Second Division
! style="width:18%;"|Third Division
|-
|align=center|2008–09
|Persipura Jayapura
|Persisam Putra Samarinda
|PS Mojokerto Putra
|PS Barito Putera
|Persikotas Tasikmalaya
|-
|align=center|2009–10
|Arema Indonesia
|Persibo Bojonegoro
|Persekam Metro
|Persikasi Bekasi
|Persewar Waropen
|-
|align=center|2010–11
|Persipura Jayapura
|Persiba Bantul
|PSBS Biak Numfor
|Persibangga Purbalingga
|MBU Sidoarjo
|}
2011–2013
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|
! style="width:18%;"|Premier Division
! style="width:18%;"|First Division
! style="width:18%;"|Second Division
! style="width:18%;"|Third Division
|-
|align=center|2011–12
|Sriwijaya
|Barito Putera
|Perseka Kaimana
|Persinab Nabire
|Jember United
|-
|align=center|2013
|Persipura Jayapura
|Persebaya DU (Bhayangkara)
|PS Kwarta
|Cilegon United
|Perseba Bangkalan
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|
! style="width:18%;"|Premier Division
! style="width:18%;"|First Division
! style="width:18%;"|Second Division
! style="width:18%;"|Third Division
|-
|align=center|2011–12
|Semen Padang
|Persepar<br>(Kalteng Putra)
|Persekap Pasuruan
|Nusaina
|Persiga Trenggalek
|-
|align=center|2013
|align="center"| Not awarded
|PSS Sleman
|colspan="3" align="center"| No competition
|-
|}
2014–2016
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|
! style="width:18%;"|Premier Division
! style="width:18%;"|First Division
! style="width:18%;"|Nusantara League
|-
|align=center|2014
|Persib Bandung
|Pusamania Borneo
|Cilegon United
|Persatu Tuban
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|Indonesia Super League
! style="width:18%;"|Premier Division
! style="width:18%;"|Nusantara League
|-
|align=center|2015
|colspan="3" align="center"| Competition abandoned due to FIFA suspension
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|ISC A
! style="width:18%;"|ISC B
! style="width:18%;"|ISC Nusantara League
|-
|align=center|2016<br>(unofficial)
|Persipura Jayapura
|PSCS Cilacap
|Perseden Denpasar
|}
2017–2024
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|Liga 1
! style="width:18%;"|Liga 2
! style="width:18%;"|Liga 3
|-
|align=center|2017
|Bhayangkara
|Persebaya Surabaya
|Blitar United
|-
|align=center|2018
|Persija Jakarta
|PSS Sleman
|Persik Kediri
|-
|align=center|2019
|Bali United
|Persik Kediri
|Persijap Jepara
|-
|align=center|2020
|colspan="3" align="center"| Competition abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic
|-
|align=center|2021–22
|Bali United
|Persis Solo
|Karo United
|-
|align=center|2022–23
|PSM Makassar
|colspan="2" align="center" |Competition abandoned after Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster
|-
|align=center|2023–24
|Persib Bandung
|PSBS Biak
|Adhyaksa Farmel
|-
|}
2024–2025
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|Liga 1
! style="width:18%;"|Liga 2
! style="width:18%;"|
! style="width:18%;"|Liga 4
|-
|align=center|2024–25
| Persib Bandung
| PSIM Yogyakarta
|
|
|}
2025–present
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! style="width:7%;"|Season
! style="width:18%;"|Super League
! style="width:18%;"|Championship
! style="width:18%;"|Liga Nusantara
! style="width:18%;"|Liga 4
|-
|align=center|2025–26
| Persib Bandung
| Garudayaksa
| RANS Nusantara
|
|}
See also
- Football records in Indonesia
- List of football clubs in Indonesia by major honours won
- Indonesian Women Football Tournament
- Indonesia Pro Futsal League
Notes
Footnotes
External links
- of PSSI
- Liga Indonesia News