Fifa has cut ties with its Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, effective 17 August 2026. This decision occurred shortly after Lamour publicly criticised Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors, a plan that has since been axed.
The conclusion of Lamour’s tenure was officially communicated by Fifa, which expressed gratitude for his contributions over the past two years. An internal email from Fifa’s Secretary General, Mattias Grafstrom, informed staff of the development, indicating an amicable decision to part ways.
Controversial Proposal Sparks Tension
In July, Lamour criticised the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, labelling it as the creation of a single individual and stated it was time for football leaders to reflect and take corrective measures. He expressed that Fifa’s administration was misled about the project, emphasising the organisation’s responsibility towards football rather than individual agendas.
Lamour, who joined Fifa in November 2024 after serving at Uefa, admitted the potential consequence of losing his position, yet stood firm on his values and responsibilities to his colleagues.
Widespread Opposition to Infantino’s Plans
Infantino’s proposal to create a new commercial entity, FFE, faced significant backlash after plans to sell a 21% stake to private investors became public. Major football governing bodies, including Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, openly opposed the plan, with Uefa warning of a World Cup boycott.
The proposal’s abandonment has influenced Uefa and Concacaf’s decision to withdraw support for Infantino in the upcoming Fifa presidential election in March next year. However, Infantino still has substantial backing from Confederations in Africa, South America, and Oceania. Notably, several Concacaf members, including Mexico, have diverged from their organisation to support Infantino.
Recent developments include the Scottish FA joining other UK associations in retracting support for Infantino. The football governance charity, FairSquare, has also petitioned Fifa to bar Infantino from re-election.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.