Fifa has dismissed its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, just under three weeks after he publicly criticized president Gianni Infantino regarding a now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in football competitions to private investors. The governing body confirmed the departure on August 17, 2026, with a spokesperson stating that the working relationship between the organization and Lamour had concluded, while thanking him for his two years of service.
Staff members were notified of the change on Monday evening via an email from secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, who informed them that the organization and Lamour had mutually agreed to part ways. In a separate letter to members of the Fifa Council, Grafstrom noted that the decision followed careful consideration and expressed gratitude for Lamour’s daily commitment to the administration.
The tension between the two men surfaced last month when Lamour labeled the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) as a project driven by a single individual. He argued that the time had arrived for football’s political leadership to make necessary decisions, claiming that the administration had been deceived regarding the project. Lamour had previously stated that he felt a duty to his colleagues and certain values, adding that if his stance cost him his job, he would accept it, noting, “At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Lamour, who joined Fifa in November 2024 after serving as deputy general secretary at Uefa, operated two management levels below the president. His dismissal follows a period of significant internal strain. Earlier this month, Infantino secured support from senior executives during a meeting in Morocco, though Lamour was notably excluded from that gathering.
The FFE initiative, which aimed to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all Fifa competitions, was scrapped after facing intense backlash. Infantino had proposed selling 21% of the company to private investment firms, a move that triggered opposition from Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation. Uefa had even threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan proceeded.
The fallout has left Infantino facing mounting pressure ahead of his bid for a fourth presidential term at the Fifa Congress next March. Following the collapse of the FFE proposal, Uefa and Concacaf withdrew their support for his re-election, although some individual members, such as Mexico, have broken ranks to back him. Meanwhile, the confederations of Africa, South America, and Oceania remain in his corner.
The political landscape continues to shift, with the Scottish FA becoming the latest national body to withdraw its support for the president on Monday, joining England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Additionally, the football governance charity FairSquare has formally written to Fifa, demanding that Infantino be barred from standing for re-election.
Beyond the departure of Lamour, the controversy has seen other high-level exits, including the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to the president. As of now, Lamour has not provided a public comment regarding his departure. The report also notes that dedicated, and exemplary Fifa employees – is to serve football”, he added, our mission – the mission of the hundreds of passionate. The report also notes that unite them, and inspire them, a president must bring people together. The report also notes that then so be it,” he added, if that means I lose my job. The report also notes that and seen by Sport, Grafstrom wrote: “I would like to provide you with an important update regarding a change within the Fifa Administration, in a letter sent to members of Fifa’s Council. The report also notes that both personally and professionally⦠I felt it was important that I personally provide you this update and I would like to express my gratitude to Kevin for these contributions and for his work and commitment on behalf of Fifa on a daily basis, this decision was made after careful consideration and with great respect for Kevin. The report also notes that i wish Kevin all the best for the future.
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