ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Support for Kurdish football club Amedspor is growing among British politicians, with specially made jerseys bearing the names of senior political figures presented at a London dinner attended by members of the Kurdish and Turkish communities.
At the event, Lambeth Councillor Ibrahim Dogus presented David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham and former UK foreign secretary and deputy prime minister, with an Amedspor jersey bearing his name.
Labour MP Feryal Clark presented a customized jersey to Angela Rayner, the UK secretary of state for housing, communities and local government and former deputy prime minister.
Guests at the dinner were briefed on Amedspor's history, its sporting journey, recent successes, and its growing fanbase in Britain.
Based in Diyarbakir, a Kurdish majority city in southeast Turkey (known as Northern Kurdistan among Kurds), Amedspor takes its name from the city's Kurdish name. The club has become a prominent symbol of Kurdish identity for many supporters, including those in Europe.
Amedspor is currently playing its historic debut season in the Turkish Süper Lig, the country's top-tier football division. The club achieved rapid back-to-back promotions, winning the TFF Second League in 2024 and finishing second in the TFF First League in May 2026 to secure automatic promotion to the top flight.
The team has enjoyed a strong start to the 2026–2027 campaign, currently sitting in third place with 10 points after five matches, having recorded three wins, one draw, and one loss.
Despite its sporting success, the club has frequently faced systemic racism and hostility during away matches.
In a highly publicized incident in March 2023, Amedspor players were subjected to severe racist attacks during an away match against Bursaspor. Home supporters threw knives, water bottles, and firecrackers onto the pitch and displayed banners featuring the "White Toros", Renault Taurus cars that symbolize the extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances of Kurds in the 1990s.
Clark wished the club success, noting that it is closely followed by different communities in Britain. She highlighted Amedspor's growing importance among the Kurdish diaspora, stating that its sporting achievements are welcomed with excitement.
Dogus added that the club's growing recognition stems not only from its on-field achievements but also from “the values and messages it represents” and its ability to bring people together.
The latest jersey presentations add to a series of gestures reflecting the club's growing visibility in British political circles. Dogus recently presented an Amedspor jersey to Sir Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the House of Commons, who accepted the shirt and wished the club success.
Earlier, Maurice Glasman, a member of the House of Lords, was photographed wearing an Amedspor jersey and publicly expressed his support for the team, noting his backing for both Amedspor and Tottenham Hotspur.
