Championship (Indonesia)

The Championship, officially known as the Pegadaian Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second-tier of the football competition system in Indonesia, organized by the I-League. The competition started in 2017 after PSSI changed the previous competition Liga Indonesia Premier Division (Indonesian: Divisi Utama Liga Indonesia).

Source: Wikipedia

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Championship (Indonesia)

Originally, the Premier Division was the top-tier division when it was first established in 1994 and only became the second tier in 2008 when its place in the top flight was replaced by the newly formed Indonesia Super League. The competition is usually divided into several groups because of factors in terms of geography and number of participants.

History

Foundation

The Premier Division was the first-tier in Liga Indonesia. The system stayed put until 2007. In 2008, PSSI formed the Indonesia Super League (ISL), the first fully professional league in Indonesia, as the new top-tier of Indonesian football. The Premier Division was then being relegated to the second-tier.

As a result of continuing conflict between PT Liga Indonesia (LI) and PT Liga Prima Indonesia Sportindo (LPIS), there were two different Liga Indonesia Premier Division being organized for 2011–12 and 2013 season, one for the Indonesia Super League and the other for Indonesian Premier League. Starting in the 2014 season Premier Division was organized again by PT Liga Indonesia after the dissolution of LPIS.

First name change

In January 2017, PSSI renamed the competition from Premier Division to Liga 2 along with the change in the name of the league in the top division from Indonesia Super League to Liga 1.

Liga 2 did not use the name of the main sponsor after the name change in 2017 season until Pegadaian, which operates in the financial sector became the main sponsor in the 2023–24 season and changed the name of the league to Pegadaian Liga 2.

Second name change

In June 2025, the competition was renamed from Liga 2 to the Championship along with the change in the name of the league in the top division from Liga 1 to the Super League.

Competition format

Championship (Indonesia)

Here are some regulations that are implemented for the 2025–26 season.

Competition

There are 20 clubs in Championship, divided into two groups: Group A and Group B. Each group consists of 10 clubs based on geographical location and during the course of the season (from September to May), the teams play each other three times in a triple round-robin system (either once home and twice away or twice home and once away) for a total of 27 games. Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head records, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, fair play points and then a drawing of lots decide the ranking.

Promotion and relegation

The first-place teams from both the Group A and B earn direct promotion to Super League, while the runners-up of each group face each other in a promotion play-off to compete for one additional promotion spot.

The 10th-placed teams from both the Group A and B are directly relegated to Liga Nusantara, while the 9th-placed teams from each group compete in a relegation play-off to determine one more team to be relegated.

Video Assistant Referee

Video assistant referee (VAR) was introduced to Championship for the first time in the 2024–25 season during the final and promotion play-off matches. The 2025–26 season sees the full implementation of VAR for the first time.

Teams

Current participating teams

The following 20 clubs will compete in the Championship during 2025–26 season.

<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>Recently relegated from Super League</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Recently promoted from Liga Nusantara</td></tr></tbody></table>

• "Year joined" is the year the club joined the Liga Indonesia, including leagues that are divisionally below it and counted since 1994–95 season. • "First season in D2" and "Seasons in D2" counted since Premier Division dropped down to second-tier and also including of LPIS Premier Division during dualism era (2011–2013) and ISC B. • "Last spell in top flight" counted since foundation of Super League, including Indonesian Premier League during dualism era (2011–2013) and ISC A in 2016 season.

Former teams

The following clubs competed in the Championship since 2017 season, but are not competing in the 2025–26 season.

<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>Recently promoted to Super League</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Recently relegated to Liga Nusantara</td></tr></tbody></table>

Championship history

Championship (Indonesia)

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>League name</th><th>Champions</th><th>Score</th><th>Runners-up</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>Divisi Utama Esia</td><td>Persisam Putra Samarinda</td><td>1–0</td><td>Persema Malang</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Liga Joss Indonesia</td><td>Persibo Bojonegoro</td><td>0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p)</td><td>Deltras Sidoarjo</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>Liga Ti-Phone</td><td>Persiba Bantul</td><td>1–0</td><td>Persiraja Banda Aceh</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LPIS)</td><td>Divisi Utama</td><td>Persepar Palangkaraya</td><td>round robin</td><td>Pro Duta</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LI)</td><td>Barito Putera</td><td>2–1</td><td>Persita Tanggerang</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LPIS)</td><td>PSS Sleman</td><td>2–1</td><td>Lampung FC</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LI)</td><td>Persebaya DU</td><td>2–0</td><td>Perseru Serui</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Pusamania Borneo</td><td>2–1</td><td>Persiwa Wamena</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Season abandoned due to FIFA suspension of Indonesia</td></tr><tr><td>2016 (unofficial)</td><td>ISC B</td><td>PSCS Cilacap</td><td>4–3 (a.e.t.)</td><td>PSS Sleman</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Liga 2</td><td>Persebaya Surabaya</td><td>3–2 (a.e.t.)</td><td>PSMS Medan</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>PSS Sleman</td><td>2–0</td><td>Semen Padang</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Persik Kediri</td><td>3–2</td><td>Persita Tangerang</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Persis Solo</td><td>2–1</td><td>RANS Cilegon</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>Season abandoned after Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Pegadaian Liga 2</td><td>PSBS Biak</td><td>6–0 (3–0 / 3–0)</td><td>Semen Padang</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>PSIM Yogyakarta</td><td>2–1 (a.e.t.)</td><td>Bhayangkara Presisi</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td>Pegadaian Championship</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Promotion history

Championship (Indonesia)

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Champions</th><th>Runners-up</th><th>Third place</th><th>Fourth place</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>Persisam Samarinda</td><td>Persema Malang</td><td>PSPS Pekanbaru</td><td>Persebaya Surabaya‡</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Persibo Bojonegoro</td><td>Deltras Sidoarjo</td><td>Semen Padang</td><td>Persiram Raja Ampat†</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>Persiba Bantul</td><td>Persiraja Banda Aceh</td><td>Mitra Kukar</td><td>Persidafon Jayapura‡</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LPIS)</td><td>Persepar Palangkaraya</td><td>Pro Duta</td><td>Perseman Manokwari</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LI)</td><td>Barito Putera</td><td>Persita Tangerang</td><td>Persepam Madura United</td><td>PSIM Yogyakarta†</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LI)</td><td>Persebaya DU (Bhayangkara)</td><td>Perseru Serui</td><td>Persik Kediri</td><td>Persikabo Bogor†</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Pusamania Borneo</td><td>Persiwa Wamena</td><td>—N/a</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Persebaya Surabaya</td><td>PSMS Medan</td><td>PSIS Semarang</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>PSS Sleman</td><td>Semen Padang</td><td>Kalteng Putra</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Persik Kediri</td><td>Persita Tangerang</td><td>Persiraja Banda Aceh</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Persis Solo</td><td>RANS Cilegon</td><td>Dewa United</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>PSBS Biak</td><td>Semen Padang</td><td>Malut United</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>PSIM Yogyakarta</td><td>Bhayangkara Presisi</td><td>Persijap Jepara</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>—N/a</td></tr></tbody></table>

Bold designates the promoted club † Lost the Promotion/relegation playoff ‡ Won the Promotion/relegation playoff and got promoted

Relegation history

Championship (Indonesia)

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Relegated teams</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2008–09</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LPIS)</td><td></td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LI)</td><td></td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td></td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td></td><td>40</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Relegated teams (points)</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>West region</td><td>East region</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td></td><td></td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td></td><td></td><td>6</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Relegated teams</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2021</td><td></td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td></td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td></td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td></td><td>3</td></tr></tbody></table>

Foreign players

Championship (Indonesia)

Championship's policy on foreign players has changed multiple times since its inception.

• 2008–2009: 3 foreign players. • 2009–2010: 4 foreign players. • 2010–2012: 3 foreign players. • 2014 : 2 foreign players. • 2015–2023 : No foreign players quota. • 2023–2024: 2 foreign players including 1 Asian quota. • 2024–present: 3 foreign players.

Awards

Best player

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Player</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>Aldo Barreto</td><td>Persisam Putra Samarinda</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Victor da Silva</td><td>Persibo Bojonegoro</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>Wahyu Wijiastanto</td><td>Persiba Bantul</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LPIS)</td><td>George Oyedepo</td><td>Persepar Palangkaraya</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LI)</td><td>Cristian Carrasco</td><td>Persita Tangerang</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LPIS)</td><td>Not awarded</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LI)</td><td>Jean Paul Boumsong</td><td>Persebaya (DU)</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Sengbah Kennedy</td><td>Persiwa Wamena</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Irfan Jaya</td><td>Persebaya Surabaya</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Ichsan Pratama</td><td>PSS Sleman</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Taufiq Febriyanto</td><td>Persik Kediri</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Rifal Lastori</td><td>RANS Cilegon</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Alexsandro</td><td>PSBS Biak</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Rafinha</td><td>PSIM Yogyakarta</td></tr></tbody></table>

Top scorers

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Top scorer(s)</th><th>Club(s)</th><th>Goals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>Herman Dzumafo</td><td>PSPS Pekanbaru</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Jean Paul Boumsong</td><td>Persikad Depok</td></tr><tr><td>Mardiansyah</td><td>Persikabo Bogor</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Edward Junior Wilson</td><td>Semen Padang</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>Udo Fortune</td><td>Persiba Bantul</td><td>34</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LPIS)</td><td>Abel Cielo</td><td>Perseman Manokwari</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12 (LI)</td><td>Sackie Teah Doe</td><td>Barito Putera</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LPIS)</td><td>Not awarded</td></tr><tr><td>2013 (LI)</td><td>Jean Paul Boumsong</td><td>Persebaya (DU)</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>Oliver Makor</td><td>Persik Kediri</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Yao Rudy Abblode</td><td>Persiwa Wamena</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Rivaldi Bawuo</td><td>Kalteng Putra</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Indra Setiawan</td><td>PS Mojokerto Putra</td><td>29</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Sirvi Arfani</td><td>Persita Tangerang</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Alberto Gonçalves</td><td>Persis Solo</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Alexsandro</td><td>PSBS Biak</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Ramai Rumakiek</td><td>Persipura Jayapura</td><td>22</td></tr></tbody></table>

Title sponsors

Championship (Indonesia)

<table><thead><tr><th>Period</th><th>Sponsor(s)</th><th>Brand</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2008–2009</td><td>Esia</td><td>Esia Divisi Utama</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009–2010</td><td>Extra Joss</td><td>Liga Joss Indonesia</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010–2011</td><td>Ti-Phone</td><td>Liga Ti-Phone</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012–2016</td><td>No sponsors</td><td>Divisi Utama</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017–2023</td><td>Liga 2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023–2025</td><td>Pegadaian</td><td>Pegadaian Liga 2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025–present</td><td>Pegadaian Championship</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Broadcasting partner

Championship (Indonesia)

<table><thead><tr><th>Broadcaster</th><th>Year</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>tvOne</td><td>2013, 2017–2019</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>First Media and Big TV</td><td>2014</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OrangeTV</td><td>2017–2018</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>iflix</td><td>2017–2018</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Telkom Indonesia</td><td>2018–2022</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vidio</td><td>2018–present</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nex Parabola</td><td>2019, 2021–present</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kompas TV</td><td>2020</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MNC Vision Networks</td><td>2020–2021, 2023–2025</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Indosiar</td><td>2021–present</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Moji</td><td>2021–2022, 2024</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sin Po TV</td><td>2025–present</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>