FIFA Sacks Senior Executive Who Criticised Infantino
FIFA has parted ways with its Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, weeks after the senior executive publicly criticised FIFA President Gianni Infantino over a controversial plan involving the organisation’s commercial rights.
FIFA confirmed that Lamour’s employment ended on August 17, 2026. The governing body said it had agreed to end its working relationship with him and thanked him for his two years of service. FIFA did not provide further details about the decision.
Lamour had publicly opposed Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to create a commercial subsidiary for FIFA’s major tournaments and sell up to a 20 percent stake to external investors.
The proposed venture was reportedly valued at around $20 billion and was intended to include commercial operations connected to competitions such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. The plan faced strong opposition from several football bodies before FIFA eventually abandoned it.
Lamour had accused FIFA leadership of deceiving staff over the proposal and questioned the transparency surrounding the project. He reportedly described it as the project of one person and said football leaders needed to ask serious questions about the plan.
The executive had also indicated that he understood his criticism could cost him his position, saying he was prepared to accept the consequences if speaking out meant losing his job.
Lamour’s departure is significant because he had previously been considered part of Infantino’s inner circle. Before joining FIFA in 2024, he worked at UEFA and had supported Infantino’s successful campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016.
His exit comes amid growing tensions within world football over Infantino’s leadership and the proposed commercial restructuring. Several major football organisations opposed the investment plan, which was ultimately withdrawn following the backlash.
Lamour later sent a farewell message to FIFA colleagues in which he urged them to continue doing what they believed was right. He wrote that life was not about doing what was easy but about doing what was right, according to an internal email obtained by Sky News.
The latest development adds to the pressure surrounding Infantino as he prepares for the next FIFA presidential election, scheduled for 2027.
