FIFA Fires COO Kevin Lamour After Public Criticism of Infantino

FIFA has dismissed its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, effective August 17, 2026, less than three weeks after he publicly accused president Gianni Infantino of deceiving staff over a controversial commercial deal. The departure was confirmed by a FIFA spokesperson who stated the working relationship had ended and thanked Lamour for his service.

Lamour, who joined FIFA in November 2024 after serving as deputy general secretary at UEFA, issued a public statement on July 31 criticizing the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative. The plan, announced by Infantino in July, involved creating a separate entity to sell a minority stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. Lamour called the initiative "the project of one person" and stated it was "a bad deal for FIFA's member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game." He specifically alleged that FIFA's administration had been "deceived" about the project's nature and implications. At the time, Lamour acknowledged the risk, saying, "If that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision."