# 2021 in Indonesian football

The 2021 season of competitive association football in Indonesia.

## Promotion and relegation

| League | Promoted to league | Relegated from league |
| Liga 1 | Persik Persita Persiraja | Badak Lampung Semen Padang Kalteng Putra |
| Liga 2 | Persijap PSKC Tiga Naga Persekat Putra Safin Group (formerly Putra Sinar Giri) Hizbul Wathan (formerly Semeru) | PSGC Persibat Bandung United Madura Persatu PSMP |

### Name changes

* Semeru relocated to Sidoarjo and were renamed to Hizbul Wathan.
* Putra Sinar Giri relocated to Pati and were renamed to Putra Safin Group Pati (PSG Pati). However, in June 2021, the club was acquired by Atta Halilintar and renamed themselves again into AHHA PS Pati, although the name change won't come into effect until next season.

## Domestic leagues
### Liga 1

The 2021–22 Liga 1, also known as BRI Liga 1 for sponsorship reasons, was the fifth season of Liga 1 under its current name and the 12th season of the top-flight Indonesian professional league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2008. The season started on 27 August 2021. Bali United were the defending champions from the 2019 season after the 2020 season was abandoned and declared void after three matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 25 March 2022, Bali United succeeded in defending their title for the second consecutive season, after second placed Persib draw to Persik, giving Bali United a 4-point lead with only one games left.

## Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
### Cancellation of the 2020 season

PSSI canceled the 2020 Liga 1 season after putting it under suspension twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first suspension was announced after finishing matchday three on 15 March 2020, two weeks after the government announced the first cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia. The initial suspension was only for two weeks but it was extended to 29 May 2020. However, the government blocked every attempt to resume the competition. On 27 June 2020, PSSI issued a decree to continue Liga 1 from October 2020.
After failing to obtain government and police permissions for the umpteenth time, PSSI on 29 September 2020 announced the second postponement of the 2020 season of Liga 1 and Liga 2. This time the initial suspension had a one-month period. After the end date was reached, PSSI on 29 October 2020 declared the 2020 football seasons could not be held in 2020. There was an attempt to resume the 2020 season in 2021. However, on 15 January 2021, PSSI decided to cancel the 2020 season of all football competitions and declared them void.

### 2021 season plans

PSSI and PT LIB plan to hold the 2021 season in coordination with the Indonesian Police and other state agencies despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, the country with the most COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia. The original plan was to hold it from 11 June 2021 and finish on 11 March 2022. After months of debate, PSSI decided against eliminating the relegation and promotion system, an option that many cash-strapped clubs proposed. PSSI also changed the starting date to early July 2021. COVID-19 restrictions in many cities on Java island delayed the commencement to late August 2021.
In order to obtain government permission, PSSI and PT LIB themselves had to incorporate various COVID-19 restrictions for the 2021 season, including disallowing fans to be inside or outside the stadium before, during, and after matches. Only a maximum of 299 people, including players, coaches, team officials, security personnel, and special guests, are allowed to enter the stadium. In addition, all entrants are required to be tested, pass temperature checks, wear masks, and follow other health protocols. All players also must be fully vaccinated to be eligible to play. All matches are expected to be played on main island of Java to reduce contagion risks from air travel, leading to protests from non-Java teams that must relocate their base to a Java city.
As a simulation for the 2021 season, PSSI held the 2021 Menpora Cup as a pre-season tournament for the Liga 1 teams. The event was held as a reference in implementing health protocols so that government and police officials become convinced that professional football matches would not turn into super-spreader events.

### 2021 format

Cognizant of the fluctuating situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, PSSI and PT LIB decided the league format will be divided into six series that consider the infection levels across Java island. Each series will cover 45-54 matches (five to six matchdays) played in multiple designated regions to ensure no club will play in their home grounds. The venues can change days ahead of schedule if certain regions are deemed as COVID-19 red zones or violations to COVID-19 rules occurred at a specific stadium.
The first series (six matchdays) will be held in the provinces of Banten, West Java, and DKI Jakarta with six stadiums (Benteng Taruna Stadium, Pakansari Stadium, Patriot Stadium (Indonesia), Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium and Jalak Harupat Stadium). The second series is planned to be held in the provinces Central Java and Special Region of Yogyakarta with five stadiums (Jatidiri Stadium, Citarum Stadium, Manahan Stadium, Maguwoharjo Stadium and Sultan Agung Stadium). The third series is planned to entirely run in East Java province but in different nine stadiums (Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Gelora 10 November Stadium, Kanjuruhan Stadium, Gajayana Stadium, Surajaya Stadium, Petrokimia Stadium, Gelora Delta Stadium, Brawijaya Stadium, Gelora Bangkalan Stadium).
The fourth and fifth series will be held in Bali with limited supporters in four stadiums (Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium (Gianyar), Ngurah Rai Stadium (Denpasar), Kompyang Sujana Stadium (Denpasar), and Samudra Stadium (Badung)), before the sixth and last series is planned to take place at venues in the kick-off series in the provinces of Banten, West Java, and DKI Jakarta.

## Teams

Eighteen teams are competing in the league – all teams retained from the scrapped 2021–22 season.

### Name changes

* In early 2020, TIRA-Persikabo changed its name to Persikabo 1973.
* In late 2020, Bhayangkara relocated to Surakarta from Jakarta and changed its name to Bhayangkara Solo. However, the changes were annulled, according to PSSI in its 2021 annual congress.

### Stadiums and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Arema | Malang | Kanjuruhan | 42,449 |
| Bali United | Gianyar | Kapten I Wayan Dipta | 23,081 |
| Bali United | Bantul | Sultan Agung | 35,000 |
| Barito Putera | Martapura | Demang Lehman | 15,000 |
| Barito Putera | Sleman | Maguwoharjo | 31,700 |
| Bhayangkara | Surakarta | Manahan | 20,000 |
| Borneo | Samarinda | Segiri | 16,000 |
| Borneo | Sleman | Maguwoharjo | 31,700 |
| Madura United | Pamekasan | Gelora Madura | 15,000 |
| Persebaya | Surabaya | Gelora Bung Tomo | 55,000 |
| Persela | Lamongan | Surajaya | 16,000 |
| Persib | Bandung | Si Jalak Harupat | 27,000 |
| Persib | Bandung | Gelora Bandung Lautan Api | 38,000 |
| Persija | Jakarta | Gelora Bung Karno | 77,193 |
| Persija | Bantul | Sultan Agung | 35,000 |
| Persik | Kediri | Brawijaya | 20,000 |
| Persipura | Manado | Klabat | 10,000 |
| Persipura | Lamongan | Surajaya | 16,000 |
| Persiraja | Banda Aceh | Harapan Bangsa | 45,000 |
| Persiraja | Sleman | Maguwoharjo | 31,700 |
| Persita | Tangerang | Indomilk Arena | 30,000 |
| PSIS | Semarang | Citarum | 7,000 |
| PSM | Makassar | Andi Mattalata | 15,000 |
| PSM | Bantul | Sultan Agung | 35,000 |
| PSS | Sleman | Maguwoharjo | 31,700 |
| TIRA-Persikabo | Cibinong | Pakansari | 30,000 |
Notes:
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Stadium planned to be used for home games of non-Java teams for matches behind closed doors.
* ↑ Barito Putera played their home matches at Demang Lehman due to the renovation of their stadium at May 17th.
* ↑ Persija also registered Patriot Candrabhaga as their home stadium.
* ↑ Persipura played their home matches at Klabat due to the renovation of their stadium at Mandala for 2020 Indonesian National Games (PON XX).
* ↑ PSIS will play their home matches at Citarum because the rebuilding of their stadium at Jatidiri isn't finished yet. They also registered Moch. Soebroto and Kebondalem.

### Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and coaches may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Head Coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor(s) |
| Arema | Carlos Oliveira | Hendro Siswanto | Made by club | Ms Glow for Men, Krating Daeng, Indomie, Joseph Refo Investment Inc |
| Bali United | Stefano Cugurra | Fadil Sausu | Made by club | OVO, Envi, Indofood, Smartfren, Wuling Motors, Bank Ina, KukuBima Ener-G!, Alderon, Coco Mart, Bengkel BOS, CBN Fiber, Indomie, Achilles, Ms Glow for Men, Buana Capital, YCAB Foundation, TOA |
| Barito Putera | Djadjang Nurdjaman | Rizky Pora | Made by club | Hasnur Group |
| Bhayangkara | Paul Munster | Indra Kahfi | SPECS | BNI, Jatim Park Group, Gojek, Go-Pay, Bright Gas, Jasa Raharja |
| Borneo | Mario Gómez | Diego Michiels | RIORS | Feast, BIB, KukuBima Ener-G!, Ansaf, Fun88 Bola, Bank Kaltimtara |
| Madura United | Rahmad Darmawan | Slamet Nurcahyono | XTEN | Pojur, Lion Group, KukuBima Ener-G!, Integra Group, Kangean Energy Indonesia, Kopi ABC, Tiket.com |
| Persebaya | Aji Santoso | Hansamu Yama | Made by club | Extra Joss, Kapal Api, Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya, MPM Distributor Honda |
| Persela | Nil Maizar | Eky Taufik | Made by club | So Nice, Extra Joss |
| Persib | Robert Alberts | Supardi Nasir | Sportama | Pria Punya Selera, Halodoc, Indofood, Mobil, Permata Bank Syariah, Kopi ABC, Azzuri, Envi, Didimax, Indomie |
| Persija | Sudirman | Andritany Ardhiyasa | Juara | Krating Daeng, Amman Mineral, Indomie, Bank DKI, Ithaca Resources |
| Persik | Budi Sudarsono | Faris Aditama | Noij | Biznet, Greenland Kediri |
| Persipura | Jacksen F. Tiago | Boaz Solossa | SPECS | KukuBima Ener-G!, Bank Papua, PT Freeport Indonesia |
| Persiraja | Hendri Susilo | Mukhlis Nakata | Adhoc | Dek Gam Foundation, Bank Aceh, Lion Parcel, Kyriad Hotel Muraya Aceh, Extra Joss, PDAM Tirta Daroy, The Atjeh Connection |
| Persita | Widodo C. Putro | Egi Melgiansyah | Made by club | Palang Merah Indonesia, Matrix, Indomilk, Moya, Krating Daeng, Indomie, SOS Children's Villages, Aetra |
| PSIS | Dragan Đukanović | Wallace Costa | RIORS | DBAsia.news, Indomie, Charlie Hospital, Extra Joss, Pegadaian |
| PSM | Vacant | Wiljan Pluim | Umbro | Semen Bosowa, Kalla Group, Honda, KukuBima Ener-G! |
| PSS | Dejan Antonić | Bagus Nirwanto | Sembada | Krating Daeng, Indomie, ACEOFNEWS |
| TIRA-Persikabo | Igor Kriushenko | Manahati Lestusen | DJ Sport | SBOTOP |
Notes:
* ^ On the front of shirt.
* ^ On the back of shirt.
* ^ On the sleeves.
* ^ On the shorts.
Additionally, SPECS made referee kits and also supplied the match ball, the Illuzion II.
Apparel changes:
* ↑ Madura United used MBB as their kit manufacturer before changed it from week 4.
* ↑ Persik used MBB as their kit manufacturer before changed it from week 4.
* ↑ Persiraja used MBB as their kit manufacturer before changed it from week 4.

### Coaching changes

| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Week | Table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
| Persik | Budiardjo Thalib | End of contract | 15 December 2019 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Joko Susilo | 4 January 2020 |
| PSM | Darije Kalezić | Resigned | 23 December 2019 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Bojan Hodak | 31 December 2019 |
| Arema | Milomir Šešlija | End of contract | 23 December 2019 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Mario Gómez | 2 January 2020 |
| Madura United | Rasiman | Demoted to assistant coach | 23 December 2019 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Rahmad Darmawan | 23 December 2019 |
| Borneo | Mario Gómez | End of contract | 26 December 2019 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Edson Tavares | 4 January 2020 |
| PSIS | Bambang Nurdiansyah | Resigned | 1 January 2020 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Dragan Đukanović | 1 January 2020 |
| Persija | Edson Tavares | End of contract | 2 January 2020 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Sérgio Farias | 12 January 2020 |
| PSS | Seto Nurdiantoro | End of contract | 12 January 2020 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Eduardo Pérez | 15 January 2020 |
| PSS | Eduardo Pérez | Resigned | 24 February 2020 | Pre-season | Pre-season | Dejan Antonić | 26 February 2020 |
| Arema | Mario Gómez | Resigned | 3 August 2020 | 4 | 12 | Carlos Oliveira | 17 September 2020 |
| Borneo | Edson Tavares | Sacked | 11 August 2020 | 4 | 3 | Mario Gómez | 21 August 2020 |
| Persik | Joko Susilo | Became technical director | 13 August 2020 | 4 | 13 | Budi Sudarsono | 13 August 2020 |
| Persija | Sérgio Farias | Mutual consent | 10 September 2020 | 4 | 9 | Sudirman | 10 September 2020 |
| PSM | Bojan Hodak | Signed by Kuala Lumpur United | 9 January 2021 | 4 | 6 | | |

### Foreign players

Football Association of Indonesia restricted the number of foreign players to four per team, including one slot for a player from AFC countries. Teams can use all the foreign players at once.
* Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window.
* Former Player(s) were players that out of squad or left club within the season, after pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
| Team | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Asian Player | Former Player(s) |
| Arema | Bruno Smith | Caio Ruan | | | Jonathan Bauman Oh In-kyun Elías Alderete Matías Malvino |
| Bali United | Willian Pacheco | Brwa Nouri | Melvin Platje | | Paulo Sérgio |
| Barito Putera | Cássio | Aleksandar Rakić | Danilo Sekulić | | Yashir Islame |
| Bhayangkara | Renan Silva | Ezechiel N'Douassel | Lee Won-jae | | Hervé Guy |
| Borneo | Nuriddin Davronov | Javlon Guseynov | | | Torres Diogo Campos |
| Madura United | Jacob Pepper | Bruno Matos | Jaimerson | | Emmanuel Oti Essigba |
| Persebaya | Aryn Williams | | | | David da Silva Makan Konaté Mahmoud Eid |
| Persela | Gabriel do Carmo | Marquinhos Carioca | Brian Ferreira | | Shunsuke Nakamura Jasmin Mecinović Rafinha |
| Persib | Wander Luiz | Geoffrey Castillion | Nick Kuipers | Omid Nazari | |
| Persija | Yann Motta | Marko Šimić | Marco Motta | Rohit Chand | Marc Klok |
| Persik | | | | | Nikola Ašćerić Ante Bakmaz Gaspar Vega Jefferson Oliveira |
| Persipura | Takuya Matsunaga | | | | Sylvano Comvalius Arthur Cunha Thiago Amaral |
| Persiraja | | | | | Adam Mitter Vanderlei Bruno Dybal Samir Ayass |
| Persita | Tamirlan Kozubaev | Yevhen Budnik | | | Mateo Bustos Eldar Hasanović |
| PSIS | Bruno Silva | Flávio Beck | Wallace Costa | Jonathan Cantillana | |
| PSM | Wiljan Pluim | | | | Hussein Eldor Giancarlo Šerif Hasić |
| PSS | Guilherme Batata | Zah Rahan Krangar | Yevhen Bokhashvili | Aaron Evans | |
| TIRA-Persikabo | Alex Gonçalves | Ciro Alves | | | Petteri Pennanen Artyom Filiposyan |
Source: First transfer window
Notes:
* ↑ Gained Indonesian citizenship

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Persib | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 9 | |
| 2 | Bali United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 | Qualification for the 2021 AFC Cup group stage |
| 3 | Borneo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Persipura | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 6 | Qualification for the 2021 AFC Cup play-off round |
| 5 | PSIS | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 | |
| 6 | PSM | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 5 | |
| 7 | Persiraja | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 5 | |
| 8 | Madura United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 4 | |
| 9 | Persija | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 4 | |
| 10 | TIRA-Persikabo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| 11 | Bhayangkara | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 12 | Arema | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |
| 13 | Persik | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 14 | Persita | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | |
| 15 | Persebaya | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 1 | |
| 16 | PSS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 | |
| 17 | Barito Putera | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 | |
| 18 | Persela | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 0 | |
* ↑ Bali United qualified for the 2021 AFC Cup group stage as the 2019 Liga 1 champions.
* ↑ Persipura qualified for the 2021 AFC Cup play-off round as the 2019 Liga 1 third place.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ARE | BLU | BPT | BHA | BOR | MDU | PBY | PSL | PSB | PSJ | KDR | PPR | RAJ | PTA | SMG | PSM | PSS | TIR |
| Arema | — | | | | | | a | | 1–2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Bali United | | — | | | | 3–1 | | | | | | | | 0–0 | | | | |
| Barito Putera | | 1–2 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bhayangkara | | | | — | | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | |
| Borneo | | | | | — | | | 2–1 | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | |
| Madura United | | | 4–0 | | | — | | | | | | | 0–0 | | | | | |
| Persebaya | a | | | | | | — | | | | 1–1 | 3–4 | | | | | | |
| Persela | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | 2–3 | | | |
| Persib | | | | | | | | 3–0 | — | a | | | | | | | 2–1 | |
| Persija | | | | | 3–2 | | | | a | — | | | | | | | | |
| Persik | | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | — | | 0–1 | | | | | |
| Persipura | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | 2–0 | | | |
| Persiraja | | | | 0–0 | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | |
| Persita | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | 1–1 | | |
| PSIS | 2–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | |
| PSM | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | 2–1 | |
| PSS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | 0–0 |
| TIRA-Persikabo | 0–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–1 | | | | — |

## Season statistics
### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Wander Luiz | Persib | 4 |
| 2 | Alberto Gonçalves | Madura United | 3 |
| 3 | Kushedya Hari Yudo | Arema | 2 |
| 3 | Melvin Platje | Bali United | 2 |
| 3 | Renan Silva | Bhayangkara | 2 |
| 3 | Torres | Borneo | 2 |
| 3 | Rafinha | Persela | 2 |
| 3 | Geoffrey Castillion | Persib | 2 |
| 3 | Evan Dimas | Persija | 2 |
| 3 | Thiago Amaral | Persipura | 2 |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | PSIS | 2 |

### Discipline

* Most yellow card(s): 2
** 17 players
* Most red card(s): 1
** Jonathan Bauman (Arema)
** Gabriel do Carmo (Persela)
** Ante Bakmaz (Persik)
** Andri Ibo (Persik)
** Arthur Cunha (Persipura)
** Feri Komul (Persiraja)
** Finky Pasamba (PSIS)
** Safrudin Tahar (PSIS)
** Derry Rachman (PSS)

## Attendances

| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
| 1 | Persija | 50,826 | 50,826 | 50,826 | 50,826 | +109.1%$^†$ |
| 2 | Persebaya | 62,227 | 50,000 | 12,227 | 31,114 | +88.9%$^†$ |
| 3 | Persiraja | 26,510 | 26,510 | 26,510 | 26,510 | +277.1%$^†$ |
| 4 | Persib | 51,927 | 26,677 | 25,250 | 25,964 | +72.3%$^†$ |
| 5 | Arema | 23,781 | 23,781 | 23,781 | 23,781 | +67.7%$^†$ |
| 6 | PSIS | 16,272 | 16,272 | 16,272 | 16,272 | +80.6%$^†$ |
| 7 | Persik | 23,642 | 12,600 | 11,042 | 11,821 | +50.4%$^†$ |
| 8 | Persita | 10,019 | 10,019 | 10,019 | 10,019 | +80.5%$^†$ |
| 9 | PSM | 19,855 | 12,317 | 7,538 | 9,928 | +29.5%$^†$ |
| 10 | Persela | 8,956 | 8,956 | 8,956 | 8,956 | +13.4%$^†$ |
| 11 | TIRA-Persikabo | 16,870 | 9,962 | 6,908 | 8,435 | +47.0%$^†$ |
| 12 | Bali United | 14,774 | 8,223 | 6,551 | 7,387 | −56.4%$^†$ |
| 13 | Borneo | 9,522 | 5,351 | 4,171 | 4,761 | +50.1%$^†$ |
| 14 | Barito Putera | 4,481 | 4,481 | 4,481 | 4,481 | −6.4%$^†$ |
| 15 | Persipura | 3,428 | 3,428 | 3,428 | 3,428 | −2.7%$^†$ |
| 16 | PSS | 3,118 | 3,118 | 3,118 | 3,118 | −83.5%$^†$ |
| 17 | Madura United | 6,136 | 3,865 | 2,271 | 3,068 | −8.6%$^†$ |
| 18 | Bhayangkara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −100.0%$^†$ |
| | League total | 352,344 | 50,826 | 0 | 13,552 | +44.8%$^†$ |
Source: Shopee Liga 1 2020 Notes: $^†$ Teams played previous season in Liga 2

## National teams
### Men's under-19 football team
#### 2020 AFC U-19 Championship

The 2020 AFC U-19 Championship was cancelled after the draw for the group stage was conducted.