ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Amedspor, a Kurdish football club, has secured promotion to the Turkish Super League for the first time in its history.
The Turkish Super League is the country’s top tier of football, featuring leading clubs in a home-and-away format. The league offers qualification to major European competitions, while lower-ranked teams face relegation, making it one of the most competitive domestic leagues in the region.
Amedspor earned promotion after a strong and consistent campaign in the lower division, finishing among the top contenders. The club based in Diyarbakir (Amed) relied on disciplined performances, a balanced squad, and strong home support to secure the historic achievement.
Amedspor, which enjoys a significant following among Kurds worldwide, has faced repeated controversies in recent years, particularly after adopting the name “Amed,” the Kurdish term for Diyarbakir. The team has often encountered nationalist hostility during away matches, at times leading to violence.
Kurds living outside Turkey, especially in the Kurdistan Region, traveled to support the club during the recent matches.
“Who are we? We are Kurds,” Amedspor fans chanted in the streets of Istanbul following the historic promotion.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Amedspor for the achievement.