Amedspor Secures Historic Promotion to Turkish Süper Lig, Draws Congratulations from Erdoğan and Kurdish Leaders

Peregraf — Amedspor has secured promotion to the Turkish Süper Lig (Super League) for the first time in the club's history, marking a landmark moment for the Diyarbakır-based club.

The club finished the 2025–26 Trendyol 1. Lig season in second place, reaching 74 points. Erzurumspor FK had already secured the league title and direct promotion, while Amedspor claimed the other automatic place. Amedspor's closest rival for the second spot, Erokspor, also recorded a draw against Pendikspor in their home game. Both teams finished with the same number of points after 38 matchdays, but Amedspor came out on top due to their superior head-to-head record.

Congratulations from Ankara and Kurdish Figures 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Amedspor with a message shared on social media, saying he "sincerely" congratulated the club, "the entire community," and his "brothers and sisters from Diyarbakır" who would represent the city in the Trendyol Süper Lig the following season.

Tülay Hatimoğulları, co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), also congratulated the club, saying she congratulated Amedspor "from the bottom of my heart" on their promotion to the Süper Lig.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (Kurdistan Democratic Party — KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani also extended congratulations to the club. The two figures had previously met with an Amedspor delegation in Erbil earlier this year. During that earlier visit, President Nechirvan Barzani highlighted the club's social impact, noting the enthusiasm it generates among Kurdish communities, while the Amedspor delegation also met with PUK leader Bafel Talabani to discuss potential cooperation.

Turkey's three largest clubs — Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş — also extended congratulations to Amedspor on their promotion.

Symbolic Moment for Kurdish Fans

Amedspor openly embraces a Kurdish identity and is widely supported by Kurds in Turkey and abroad. The club adopted the name "Amed" — the Kurdish name for Diyarbakır — when it changed its name in 2014, which led to increased support among Kurds, while also drawing racist attacks from Turkish nationalists and problems with Turkish authorities. 

The club has faced repeated incidents of racist harassment during matches across the country. In January 2026, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) issued a fine of 802,500 lira ($18,500) on Amedspor and suspended its president, Nahit Eren, from football-related activities for 15 days for what the TFF described as "damaging the reputation of football" by "making ideological propaganda," after the club uploaded a video of a woman having her hair braided, amid similar acts by Kurds in solidarity with their compatriots in Syria.

During their 2024–25 TFF First League fixture, fans of both Amedspor and fellow Kurdish club Vanspor F.K. chanted the Kurdish slogan "Kîne em? Kurd in em!" — meaning "Who are we? We are Kurds!" Celebrations following the promotion featured similar chants in several cities, including Istanbul.

Regional Support 

The current period of increased investment in the club coincides with a Kurdish peace process that is currently underway in Turkey. Supporters from outside Turkey, particularly from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, had traveled to attend key matches during the season.

The Süper Lig is the highest tier of football in Turkey. The 2026–27 season will feature 18 teams, with the top clubs also competing for qualification to European competitions. The club was established in 1972.