OFFSIDE: The Untold Story of Sports in the TRNC Premieres in London

Offside: The Untold Story of Sports in the TRNC is a groundbreaking film presented by UK-born Turkish Cypriot sports journalist Mert Ahmet, produced by Afzal Choudhury of NoPlayBook, and creatively directed by Eren Ramadan. The documentary was made possible with the full support of the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign. The premiere brought together a diverse and influential crowd – including UK sports journalists, former and current footballers, digital influencers, councillors, diplomats, and members of the Turkish Cypriot community, including:

His Excellency Koray Ertaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Kingdom

Esma Eroğlu, Vice Consul of the TRNC London Office

Paul Canoville, the first Black player to play for Chelsea FC

Footballers from the Men’s League One and Two, and the Women’s Premier League and Championship

Following the success of the premiere, Mert Ahmet said: “It was an honour to present this film in a packed room of sports journalists, Turkish Cypriots and individuals from political backgrounds. We gave a voice to the voiceless and showcased why sport should always be apolitical. The support from Turkish Cypriots and allies has been overwhelming. Now it’s time to come together and make a real impact.”

Official Release Date

Sunday, 27th July 2025

Available via the Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus campaign’s YouTube and social media platforms

About the Film

For decades, Turkish Cypriot football has been locked out of the international arena – not due to a lack of talent or passion, but because of politics. Players, coaches, and fans in the TRNC have paid the price of a geopolitical stalemate that has kept their sport hostage.

Filmed over four intensive days in North Cyprus, Offside captures both the isolation and the resilience of Turkish Cypriot football.

The documentary features interviews with key figures in TRNC sport, including:

Hasan Sertoğlu – President of the Cyprus Turkish Football Federation (KTFF), reflecting on the failed FIFA-mediated Zürich Agreement

Necmi Usal – Veteran BRT correspondent, providing historical context on domestic football under embargo

Simay Kanan – KTFF Women’s Football Coordinator, on rebuilding the women’s league

Barış Özbek – Former Galatasaray midfielder, now running a UEFA-A licensed academy in Karaoğlanoğlu, Girne

Billy Mehmet – One of the most decorated Turkish Cypriot footballers, discussing global visibility and leading the TRNC to the CONIFA World Cup Final

President Ersin Tatar – Speaking on sport and recognition at the 2025 Turkish Cypriot Cup Final

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu – Addressing sporting isolation as part of broader political injustice

Bayar Piskobolu – President of Doğan Türk Birliği, offering a tour of DTB’s facilities

Hasan Topaloğlu – Lefke TSK Manager

Kaan Savaşkan & Christopher Fourmy – Lefke TSK players, featured after their 3–1 victory in the 2025 Kıbrıs Kupası Final, with Fourmy crowned top goalscorer

From women’s leagues and youth academies to blocked friendlies and political interference from Greek Cypriot authorities, Offside offers the most comprehensive insight yet into the long-ignored sporting story of the TRNC.

This is not a film about victimhood – it is a story of defiance, persistence, and identity.

For Turkish Cypriots, football is more than just a game – it is a form of self-expression and a declaration of nationhood in a world that too often chooses to look the other way.

Offside: The Untold Story of Sports in the TRNC

Streaming from Sunday, 27th July 2025

Available on Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus YouTube and social media platforms