LIB was first founded as PT Liga Indonesia (English: Indonesia League) or LI in 2008 by PSSI under Nurdin Halid's chairmanship to organize or operate professional football competitions in Indonesia.[4] At the time, PSSI just formed a new league who serve as the new top division of Indonesian football pyramid, Liga Super Indonesia or Indonesia Super League (now Liga 1). LI was tasked to organize the new league alongside Divisi Utama (now Liga 2) and Piala Indonesia by PSSI from 2008–09 season onwards.[3] LI itself was a continuation of Badan Liga Indonesia (English: Indonesian League Body) who was the operator of professional football competitions in Indonesia after the merger between Galatama and Perserikatan from 1994 to 2008.[1][2][3]
From its founding, PSSI owned 99% of PT LI shares while an entity known as Yayasan Sepak Bola Indonesia, a foundation under Nirwan Bakrie, owned the other 1%.[3][4]
In 2011, the share composition changed with 99% of shares went to PSSI member clubs while the other 1% went to PSSI.[3][4] The practice continues with PT LIB.
2011–2013: Dualism
Changes in the share composition of PT LI was one of the result of internal conflict within PSSI.[4] There were two rival claimants to PSSI's chairmanship namely Djohar Arifin Husin and La Nyalla Mattalitti. Djohar won the election and became the chairman while Mattalitti disputed Djohar's victory.
Djohar Arifin Husin, PSSI's chairman at the time, chose a new league operator, PT Liga Prima Indonesia Sportindo (LPIS), instead of LI.[3][4] LPIS then proceeded to organize a new league, Indonesia Premier League or Liga Primer Indonesia for one full season (2011–12) and two seasons which went unfinished (2011 and 2013).
At the same time, other clubs who didn't take part in the IPL decided to hold a rival competition at the same time. Under the auspices of La Nyalla Mattalitti's Komite Penyelamat Sepakbola Indonesia (KPSI), they chose PT LI to be the operator for the Indonesia Super League for two seasons (2011–12 and 2013).[3]
2014–2016
The dualism, both in competition and inside PSSI, ended in 2014. PT LI became the true league operator and both IPL and ISL were merged into a unified league for the 2014 season. However, the competition in 2015 was paused 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.[5] This attracted FIFA's attention which threatened to ban Indonesian football altogether due to external meddling from BOPI and the Ministry in PSSI affairs.[6] After the situation reached boiling point when the Ministry outright froze PSSI out from organizing football competitions in Indonesia, FIFA sanctioned PSSI in 30 May 2015 hence the competition was then discontinued.[3][7]
The sanction lasted for a year and was lifted in 13 May 2016.[7] PT LI was closed by PSSI in the same year.[3]
Founding
2017 season
After the end of PSSI's suspension, PSSI chose PT Liga Indonesia Baru to replace the now defunct PT Liga Indonesia as the new league operator in 2017.[3][8]
Despite posting a revenue of around Rp6 billion in its first season,[9] there were concerns throughout the season over unpaid commercial contributions from LIB to clubs which were finally paid off by LIB on 6 March 2017.[10][11]
2023–present
There was a plan to create another company specifically to operate Liga 2 instead of using LIB to run both Liga 1 and Liga 2 simultaneously.[12] The plan was shelved however for the 2023–24 Liga 2 season and will be implemented at the very least in the 2024–2025 Liga 2 season.[13][14]
Board of directors
This list is based on the results of the PT LIB General Meeting of Shareholders in June 2023.[15]
