Amedspor: How the Kurdish team is shaking up Turkish football

A decade ago, Diyarbakir was a city defined by conflict, and its main football club, Amedspor, faced severe repression. Today, the club has transformed into a symbol of pride, with many searching for information on the Amedspor Kurdish team as it climbs to the top of the Turkish Super Lig. After years of bans, fines, and raids, the club is now enjoying its first season in the top flight, sitting second in the league after 10 matches.

The rise of the Amedspor Kurdish team

Formed in 1972 and later renamed after the Kurdish word for Diyarbakir, the club became a standard-bearer for Kurdish identity. Following the 2024 peace process between the Turkish state and the PKK, the political environment has shifted significantly. Academic Vahap Coskun notes that a "softening political climate" has allowed the club to compete fairly, supported by an experienced coach, Besnik Hasi, and a talented squad, including striker Gift Orban.

Amedspor has risen from years of political repression to become a top contender in Turkish football.

Research from the Kurdish Studies Center indicates that Amedspor’s support has quadrupled to four million people across Turkey. The team’s presence in the Super Lig has turned matches into a barometer for the acceptance of Kurdish culture, language, and identity within the country. While some rival fans have displayed hostility, the club continues to draw sellout crowds of 30,000, and state officials have formally acknowledged their recent successes.

Why it matters

The rise of Amedspor signifies a major shift in how Kurdish identity is integrated into the Turkish mainstream. By reaching the Super Lig, the club has moved from the margins of society to a central stage, helping to normalize cultural expressions that were previously suppressed.

This transition reflects the broader impact of the 2025 peace process. For observers, the club’s journey serves as a case study in how sports can act as a bridge for reconciliation and social acceptance in regions previously fractured by long-standing political conflict.