An Abrupt Exit at the Top
Kevin Lamour, FIFA’s chief operating officer and a key internal critic of Gianni Infantino, has left his position following disputes over an abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, according to reports from Yahoo Sports.
FIFA staff were informed of Lamour’s sudden departure on Tuesday evening through an email sent by Mattias Grafstrom, the secretary general, according to Yahoo Sports. Lamour had previously worked with Infantino at UEFA and was widely regarded as his No 3 at Fifa, according to Yahoo Sports.
Clash Over the FIFA Forward Enterprise Plan
The departure follows intense internal friction over the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, a proposal that would have opened up stakes in the World Cup to private investment.
Lamour had openly criticized the initiative, telling colleagues that staff had been “deceived” by Infantino regarding the project, which he described as “the project of one person,” according to Yahoo Sports reporting.
Defiance Preceding the Fall
Lamour was absent from a recent FIFA summit in Morocco, where Infantino secured backing from several senior executives and national federations. Prior to his departure, Lamour remarked on the political climate within the organization, stating, “If that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
In his farewell email to colleagues, Lamour wrote: “Please never forget that in life, it’s not about doing what’s easy; it’s about doing what’s right. The vast majority of you have understood this and put it into practice in your work. Every single day. So, hats off to you and my deepest respect.”
Official Stances and Confirmed Timeline
FIFA did not officially confirm reports that Lamour was sacked, but a spokesperson told Yahoo Sports: “Fifa can confirm that the working relationship between Fifa and Kevin Lamour as Fifa’s chief operating officer has ended on 17 August 2026. Fifa thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.” The staff email acknowledging his exit praised his work in improving relations with various stakeholders.
Confederation Pushback and Leadership Turmoil
Lamour’s exit coincides with a turbulent period for FIFA leadership. Last week, presidents and general secretaries from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and Concacaf issued a stinging open letter demanding a full independent review into the FFE plans.
Representing 143 football nations, the three confederations have also raised the prospect of exploring their own breakaway competitions, casting uncertainty on whether Infantino commands the necessary votes to stand in next March’s presidential election.
In response, FIFA issued a statement defending Infantino against what it termed a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine him and the world governing body, adding that those without member association support should not seek to achieve through “allegation, insinuation or misinformation” what they cannot achieve through established democratic processes.
Lamour’s departure follows the July resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, who served as a senior adviser to Infantino.
