Kevin Lamour, FIFA’s chief operating officer, has been dismissed after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino over a proposed scheme to sell elements of the World Cup to private investors. The move, confirmed by FIFA on 17 August 2026, marks a striking rupture inside world football’s troubled governing body and follows a series of disruptive events this summer.
What happened
FIFA said in a brief statement that the working relationship with Lamour “has ended on 17 August 2026” and that the organisation “thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future”. The statement added that no further comment would be made.
The precise circumstances of the departure remain unclear. FIFA’s secretary general, Mattias Grafström, informed staff by email that Lamour would be leaving the organisation.
Context and the row over the FFE scheme
Lamour had spoken out openly on 31 July against President Infantino’s controversial FFE proposal — a plan to involve private investors in parts of the World Cup. He said staff had been “deceived” and warned that Infantino risked confusing his personal role with that of the institution he leads. Lamour also told colleagues that, if opposing the plan cost him his job, he would accept that outcome and be able to “sleep well tonight”.
“If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” Lamour said. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
On the same day Lamour spoke out, one of Infantino’s senior advisers, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest at the proposals. The FFE scheme was shelved hours after Lamour’s intervention, but Infantino remains under intense pressure from critics seeking his removal.
Profile and significance
Lamour joined FIFA less than two years ago after a long career at UEFA, where he had been deputy secretary general and had worked at the European governing body since 2007. His departure is notable both because of his seniority and because of the longstanding professional relationship he had with Infantino dating back to their time at UEFA.
- 17 August 2026 — FIFA confirms Lamour’s departure.
- 31 July 2026 — Lamour publicly criticised the FFE scheme; the proposal was shelved the same day.
- Same day — Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 31 July 2026 | Lamour criticises FFE scheme; scheme shelved; Cordeiro resigns |
| 17 August 2026 | FIFA announces Lamour has left the organisation |
Broader consequences
The dismissal deepens a governance crisis that has been playing out at FIFA’s highest levels. Lamour’s allegations that staff had been treated with “contempt and intimidation” and his stark public comments about leadership have amplified the strain on an organisation already facing dissent over the aborted FFE proposal. While FIFA’s official line has been limited to a terse acknowledgement of the end of the working relationship, the episode is likely to intensify scrutiny from member associations, governments, sponsors and independent watchdogs.
Lamour’s public warning — that colleagues “deserve better than contempt and intimidation” — and his willingness to resign rather than stay silent underline the depth of internal disquiet. The fact that he had been a senior UEFA official since 2007 and previously worked closely with Infantino emphasises the unusual nature of the break.
Unanswered questions
Key details remain unresolved: FIFA has not explained the specific grounds for Lamour’s departure, nor outlined what, if any, internal mechanisms were used to arrive at the decision. It is also unclear how the sackings and high-profile resignations will affect ongoing efforts by some stakeholders to force changes at the top of the organisation.
For now, the combination of a shelved commercial plan, senior departures and public accusations of deception will be watched closely by those who govern, finance and follow the game worldwide.
