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In a controversial move, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has issued a hefty fine to Amedspor FC, the leading Kurdish football team in Türkiye, for what it described as “ideological propaganda.” The club, which is currently leading the second division and poised for potential historic promotion to the Super Lig, was fined 802,500 Turkish lira (approximately $18,500).
The federation also suspended club president Nahit Eren for 15 days from all football-related activities, according to a statement released Thursday evening.
The sanctions stem from a 20-second video posted on Amedspor’s social media accounts that showed a woman having her hair braided. The clip featured audio with the Kurdish slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadi” (Woman, life, freedom) – a phrase that has gained international recognition in recent years as a rallying cry for Kurdish rights movements.
The TFF justified its decision by claiming the club was “damaging the reputation of football” through “making ideological propaganda.” When contacted by AFP, Eren confirmed he had appealed the decision but declined to provide further comment. Earlier this week, however, he had posted on X (formerly Twitter) about “efforts to embroil our club in various controversies.”
The timing of the controversy is significant, occurring against a backdrop of escalating military action in northern Syria. Damascus has recently launched an offensive in northeastern areas that were previously part of the Kurds’ de facto autonomous administration. The hair-braiding gesture has emerged as a symbol of solidarity with Syrian Kurds following a viral video showing a Syrian soldier holding up what he claimed was a plait cut from a female Kurdish fighter in recently captured Raqqa.
While this claim could not be independently verified, it sparked widespread outrage on social media, with numerous solidarity videos of women braiding their hair emerging in response.
For Amedspor, based in Diyarbakir – the largest city in Türkiye’s predominantly Kurdish southeast region – the fine comes at a pivotal moment in the club’s history. Currently top of the second division table, the team is on track for potential promotion to Türkiye’s premier football league, the Super Lig, for the first time ever.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Kurdish identity and expression in Turkish society and sports. Amedspor has previously faced controversies, with supporters and the club often finding themselves at the center of political disputes in a country where Kurdish issues remain highly sensitive.
Eren’s background as the former head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association adds another layer to the situation, as legal and civil society organizations in Kurdish-majority regions have often navigated complex relationships with Turkish authorities.
Sports analysts note that the fine is substantial for a second-division club and could impact Amedspor’s operations as they pursue their promotion campaign. The suspension of their president during a crucial period of the season may also create administrative challenges.
The incident underscores how football, even at the domestic league level, frequently intersects with broader political and social issues in Türkiye, where sport is rarely separated from national identity politics and regional tensions.
As Amedspor’s appeal proceeds, the case will likely continue to draw attention to the complex relationship between sports, cultural expression, and political sensitivities in Türkiye’s diverse society.
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14 Comments
This fine on Amedspor seems heavy-handed. Football should be about the sport, not politics. I hope the club’s appeal is successful and this can be resolved amicably.
I agree, the TFF’s actions appear to be politically motivated rather than focused on the game itself. Fines and suspensions over a brief social media post seem disproportionate.
The TFF’s decision to fine and suspend Amedspor over a brief social media post seems heavy-handed and politically motivated. Football should be about the sport, not policing political messaging. I hope this can be resolved in a way that allows the team to compete without interference.
Agreed. The TFF should focus on promoting the game and ensuring a level playing field, not using its authority to crack down on political expression, no matter how controversial it may be perceived.
It’s disappointing to see political concerns interfere with a sport that should bring people together. Amedspor has built a strong following, and their fans deserve to see the team compete without these kinds of off-field distractions.
It’s concerning to see a football club facing penalties for expressing a political slogan, even briefly on social media. The ‘woman, life, freedom’ message is an important one globally. The TFF should reconsider this decision.
Agreed. Suppressing political expression, even through indirect means like sports sanctions, sets a troubling precedent. The TFF should focus on the sport, not policing social media content.
While I understand the TFF’s desire to keep politics out of football, this response feels more like an attempt to silence Kurdish voices than an objective enforcement of the rules. The ‘woman, life, freedom’ slogan is an important global movement, not just a local political statement.
Exactly. The TFF should focus on promoting the sport and allowing fans to enjoy the game, rather than using fines and suspensions to censor political expression, no matter how controversial it may be.
This is a concerning development for football fans and supporters of free expression. I hope the appeal process is fair and transparent, and that the TFF reconsiders this harsh punishment against Amedspor.
I’m curious to learn more about the context here. Was there a specific rule or regulation the club violated? Or is this more about the TFF flexing its muscles against a team with strong Kurdish ties? Either way, the punishment seems disproportionate.
Good point. The TFF should be transparent about the specific rules or policies Amedspor allegedly violated. Fining and suspending the club president seems heavy-handed without a clear justification.
While the TFF may have legitimate concerns about political messaging, banning the club’s president and imposing such a large fine feels like an overreaction. Amedspor is a beloved team, and their fans deserve to see them compete without interference.
This appears to be another example of the Turkish government cracking down on Kurdish cultural and political expression. While the TFF may claim this is about ‘damaging the reputation of football,’ the underlying motivations seem more political in nature.