FIFA parts ways with COO Kevin Lamour after criticism of Infantino's business plan

FIFA has confirmed that its Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, has departed from the organization, just weeks after he publicly criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“

FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future. No further comment will be made on the matter.

The world football governing body announced that Lamour's working relationship with FIFA ended on August 17, 2026. A FIFA spokesperson stated, "FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future. No further comment will be made on the matter."

Lamour had been a vocal critic of Infantino's controversial plan to sell a stake in FIFA's tournament business. In a statement last month, Lamour expressed that FIFA staff had been "deceived" over the proposal, describing it as "the project of one person." He added, "Our mission... is to serve football. Not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service."

“

Our mission ... is to serve football. Not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service.

Lamour's critical comments came shortly after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest, labeling the proposal "a bad deal for football." Lamour joined FIFA in November 2024, having previously been part of Infantino's inner circle during his campaign for the presidency in 2016. The internal dissent emerged as FIFA faced widespread opposition to its plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary to manage its tournaments, including the World Cup, and sell up to a 20% stake to external investors. FIFA eventually abandoned this proposal following the significant backlash.

“

a bad deal for football.