FIFA COO Kevin Lamour departs following governance row over Infantino investor plan
Kevin Lamour, the organisation’s third-highest-ranking official, left his post after publicly criticising Gianni Infantino’s scrapped proposal to sell stakes in major competitions to private investors.
FIFA confirmed on Monday that Kevin Lamour has left his role as chief operating officer, ending a tenure that lasted since November 2024. The departure follows Lamour’s public opposition to president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. A FIFA spokesperson told AFP that the working relationship between the organisation and Lamour had ended on 17 August 2026, corroborating earlier reports by The Athletic.
Lamour, a Frenchman and former employee of European governing body UEFA, was the third-highest-ranking official at FIFA. In a statement sent to the Associated Press and published on 31 July, he described the scrapped investor plan as "the project of one person". He stated that he would respect any decision regarding his own position, adding, "If that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight."
The controversy surrounding the investor plan has intensified scrutiny on Infantino’s leadership, marking the first significant challenge to his position since he was first elected in 2016. Other senior figures within the organisation have also distanced themselves from the proposal. Secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and chief of global football development Arsene Wenger both welcomed the cancellation of the plan, with Wenger describing the move as "absolutely necessary".
Pressure on the president has been compounded by a joint letter released earlier this month by UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation. The confederations declared that "football belongs to no individual" and had previously threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over the investor proposal. The joint statement underscores the growing institutional resistance to Infantino’s governance style ahead of next year’s election.
Amidst the internal turmoil, FIFA issued a statement defending Infantino against allegations regarding payments to a former lover during his time at UEFA, which the president has denied. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has publicly backed Infantino, warning that removing him would be a "terrible mistake". The departure of Lamour signals a deepening fracture within the organisation’s executive leadership as it navigates these political and governance challenges.
