Fifa chief operating officer Kevin Lamour dismissed after governance row
The governing body confirmed the end of Lamour’s tenure on 17 August 2026, citing an agreement to part ways, as political pressure on the president intensifies ahead of next year’s election.
Fifa has dismissed chief operating officer Kevin Lamour less than three weeks after he publicly challenged president Gianni Infantino’s aborted strategy to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. The governing body confirmed that the working relationship between Lamour and the organisation ended on 17 August 2026, stating that the parties had agreed to part ways.
Lamour, who joined Fifa in November 2024 after serving as deputy general secretary at Uefa, had described the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plans as “the project of one person.” He asserted that Fifa’s administration had been deceived regarding the now-abandoned project, which sought to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup.
In a statement to staff, secretary general Mattias Grafstrom informed colleagues that the decision followed careful consideration. Grafstrom wrote to members of Fifa’s Council, expressing gratitude for Lamour’s contributions and wishing him well, while noting the departure was made with respect for his professional record.
Lamour had previously stated he felt a duty to his values and colleagues, adding, “If that means I lose my job, then so be it.” His comments came after he was excluded from a recent meeting in Morocco where Infantino received backing from senior executives, a development that underscored the growing rift within the organisation’s leadership.
The dismissal occurs against a backdrop of significant political instability for Infantino. His proposal to sell a 21% stake in FFE to private investment companies faced widespread opposition from Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, leading to the plan’s cancellation. Uefa had threatened to boycott the World Cup if the proposal proceeded, and both Uefa and Concacaf subsequently withdrew support for Infantino’s bid for a fourth presidential term.
Further eroding the president’s standing, the Scottish FA became the latest body to withdraw support for Infantino’s re-election, following similar moves by England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Football governance charity FairSquare has also written to Fifa, demanding that Infantino not be allowed to stand for re-election at the Fifa Congress in March next year.
While the confederations of Africa, South America, and Oceania continue to back Infantino, and several Concacaf members including Mexico have broken ranks with their confederation to support him, the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro earlier this month highlights the internal turmoil. Lamour’s exit marks the latest development in a period of intense scrutiny over Fifa’s governance and commercial strategies.
