 | ||||
| Full name | Amed Sportif Faaliyetler Kulübü | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | Amedspor | |||
| Founded | 1972; 53 years ago[a] | |||
| Ground | Diyarbakır Stadium,Diyarbakır[1] | |||
| Capacity | 33,000[1] | |||
| Chairman | Nahit Eren[1] | |||
| Head coach | Sinan Kaloğlu | |||
| League | TFF 1. Lig | |||
| 2024–25 | TFF 1. Lig, 9th of 20 | |||
| Website | http://www.amedspor.com.tr/ | |||
 Current season | ||||
| Active departments of Amed SFK | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Amed Sportif Faaliyetler Kulübü,[2] commonly known asAmedspor, is asports club based inDiyarbakır,Turkey. Formerly namedDiyarbakır Büyükşehir Belediyespor, itsfootball section plays in theTFF First League since the 2024–25 season.
The club was established in 1972 and competed in the amateur leagues for many years asMelikahmet Turanspor, because of a sponsorship with Turan Gazozlar. The club colours were red and white. In 1985 the club name changed intoMelikahmetspor after thenaming rights/sponsorship had ended.[3]
The Diyarbakırmunicipality bought the club in 1990 and changed its name toDiyarbakır Belediyespor. In 1993 the club changed its name intoDiyarbakır Büyükşehir Belediyespor, after becoming ametropolitan municipality.[4]DEHAP mayorFeridun Çelik changed the club name in 1999 toDiyarbakır Büyükşehir Belediyesi DİSKİspor in order to generate income from Diyarbakır Büyükşehir Belediyesi Su ve Kanalizasyon İdaresi (DİSKİ). At the beginning of the 2010–11 season thegeneral assembly decided to alter the name once again intoDiyarbakır Büyükşehir Belediyespor.
In October 2014, they changed their name toAmedspor without official approval, and therefore had been fined by theTurkish Football Federation (TFF).[5] The objection of the TFF was because of the existence of the originalAmedspor, which later on changed its name intoAmidaspor.[6][7] However, when the team changed its name toAmed Sportif Faaliyetler Kulübü, TFF announced that it accepted this new name.
| Season | Manufacture | Kit Colours |
|---|---|---|
| –2013 | Umbro | Red-Green |
| 2013–2016 | Lotto | Red-Green, White, Black |
| 2016–2017 | Nike[8] | White, Red, Black |
| 2018–2019 | Nike | Red-Green, White, Green, Red |
| 2021–2022 | Nike | Red-Green, White, Black |
| 2022–2023 | Nike | Red, Black-Gold, White-Red |
In early 2016, Amedspor pulled off an upset win overBursaspor to make it into quarterfinals of theTurkish Cup.[9] After this victory their fans were banned from the following match againstFenerbahçe S.K. by the TFF because of ideological propaganda.[10] The TFF also suspended their midfielderDeniz Naki 12 games for ideologically supporting theseparatistPKK (in a tweet) and unsportmanslike conduct[11] and fined him with 19.500TL (~$6500).[12] Also the police raided the club's offices taking their computers on suspicion that a politically controversial Tweet might possibly have originated from there.[13]
According to an interview which the German newspaperDie Zeit held with their representatives, the club experienced difficulties as the club was seen as a symbol ofKurdish nationalist identity by the TFF and Turkish authorities. Theflag of Kurdistan is banned from the stadiums and since December 2015 the fans of Amedspor were banned from watching the away games in the regular season. After the ban about 500 fans went to watch their team without showing the colors of their team, but as they showed their emotions for their team when it scored a goal, they had trouble with the fans from the opposite team and the police and they had to leave before the end of the match.[14] From January 2016 to February 2019 the fans were banned to watch away games from the male football team for 64 games. Fans of theAmed S.K. women's team were not allowed to watch away games from 2018 to February 2019.[15] Also merchandise articles of the fans are also often seized by the police.[14] Amedspor also has a women's volleyball team.[16]
On matchday 24 of the 2018–19 TFF Second League season Amed S.F.K. team captainMansur Çalar attacked several opponent players ofSakaryaspor causing cuts in the bodies of the footballers. Although the Disciplinary Committee of the TFF punished Çalar for his extremely gross unsportsmanlike conduct with a four-year ban, the Arbitration Board of the TFF reduced his suspension to 20 games and fined him with 25.000 TL.[17] This incident is another example of animosity between football clubs.
In October 2022,Diyarbakir Bar Association has filed a criminal complaint against a military officer who is the commander of the gendarmerie force in the central province of Afyon, told the players ofAfjet Afyonspor that he hoped, especially after a PKK terror attack inMersin, that they would crush the opponent.[18]
TheTFF Second League White Group 2022-2023 season encounters between the clubs fromBursa and Diyarbakır caused once again animosity. In September 2022 the guest Bursa side came and left the stadium withinarmored vehicles. During the warming-up fans of Amed S.F.K. threw stones at the footballers of the Green Crocodiles and some home supporters invaded the pitch. The same spectators threw also a knife to the Bursa goalkeeper. The stands showed the Kurdish flag and as tensions ratched up police officers were attacked by the home fans outside the stadium.[19]Before the return match played on 5 March 2023, Amedspor players were attacked and some Bursaspor fans unfurled banners ofMahmut Yıldırım, codenamed as Yeşil (Turkish for "Green"), a Turkish rogueagent who is responsible for unresolved murders and photos of "Renault Toros" automobile, symbolizingforced disappearances andpolitical murders in Turkey in 1990s. The Arbitration Committee of the TFF punished Bursaspor with 6+1 games without fans and club officials were banned from football activities for a period of 90 days.[20]HDP said: “We condemn the racist attacks against Amedspor in Bursa. The atmosphere in which the spirits of the murderers of the 1990s and the residues ofJİTEM roam will neither prevent Amedspor nor end the hope for peace. Those responsible must be held accountable before the law. We are the millions who will not kneel against fascism.”[21]Diyarbakır Bar Association, in its criminal complaint regarding the events in the match, stated that crimes of inciting or humiliating the public to hatred and hostility, intentionally endangering general security, insulting and abuse of office were committed.[22]
Provocations during the Bursaspor match
Before the Bursaspor match played on March 5, 2023, Amedspor players were attacked. Some Bursaspor supporters displayed banners of Mahmut Yıldırım, known by his code name “Yeşil” (“Green”), a former Turkish intelligence agent responsible for numerous unsolved murders.
Other Bursaspor fans displayed images of Renault Toros cars, which became a symbol of forced disappearances and political killings in the 1990s. Both Turkish and Kurdish politicians condemned these provocations. In its official statement, the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) said:
“We condemn the racist attacks in Bursa against Amedspor. The atmosphere that revives the spirits of the murderers of the 1990s and the remnants of JİTEM will not stop Amedspor nor end the hope for peace. Those responsible must be held accountable before the law. We are millions standing together against fascism.”[23]
The Amed Bar Association , in its criminal complaint regarding the incident, stated that crimes inciting hatred and hostility among the public were committed, that public safety was deliberately endangered, and that there was abuse of official duty.
In 2025, Amed Sportif Faaliyetler (commonly known as Amedspor) was fined by theTurkish Football Federation (TFF) for featuring aKurdish-language slogan on its official jerseys. The club’s kit displayed the phrase “Koma me bona we” (English: “Our group is for you”), a slogan related to a local sponsor’s advertising campaign. Although the club stated that the sponsorship design had been formally approved by the federation before the season began, the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) fined Amedspor ₺110,000, citing a breach of “equipment regulations.”[24]
A few weeks later, the PFDK issued another ₺110,000 fine for the same slogan appearing during a subsequent league match, bringing the total amount to ₺220,000.[25]
In response, Amedspor’s management argued that the decision was discriminatory, emphasizing that theKurdish slogan carried no political meaning and that itsTurkish equivalent had previously appeared on other clubs’ jerseys without sanction. Club president Aziz Elaldı stated that the ruling represented a “double standard” and an “implicit ban on theKurdish language in sports.”[26]
The incident provoked a strong public reaction. The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) condemned the fines as “another example of institutional discrimination against Kurdish identity,” and called on the federation to reverse its decision.[27] Several human rights organizations and local bar associations also criticized the sanctions, arguing that they restricted linguistic diversity and freedom of expression in Turkish sports.[28]
The TFF, however, maintained that the fines were not related to the language of the slogan but rather to “technical violations” of sponsorship and equipment regulations. Nevertheless, the case reignited debate about the place of Kurdish language and identity within Turkish professional football and the broader sports community.[29]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
.svg)
