Fifa’s chief operating officer sacked after public criticism of Gianni Infantino
Fifa’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, has been dismissed from his position following his public criticism of president Gianni Infantino, reports BritPanorama.
Lamour’s departure comes less than three weeks after he publicly denounced the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), describing it as “a project of one person” and urging football leaders to reassess their decisions. His comments were made in a statement released on July 31.
A Fifa spokesman confirmed that the working relationship with Lamour ended on August 17, 2026. He stated, “Fifa thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future,” adding that no further comments would be made regarding the matter.
Staff received notification of Lamour’s exit on the evening prior to the announcement, with Fifa Secretary General Mattias Grafström sending out a letter. Previously, Lamour had worked alongside Infantino at Uefa, where he served as deputy general secretary before joining Fifa in November 2024.
In July, Lamour expressed serious concerns about Fifa’s plans, asserting that “not only must this project not go ahead… but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.” He concluded a recent interview by stating, “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.”
His dismissal aligns with the resignations of others opposed to the new direction under Infantino, including senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who called the proposals “a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”
Infantino’s controversial announcement in July to sell a minority stake in Fifa competitions to private investors, including the World Cup, has sparked substantial backlash from various football bodies, including Uefa and the Asian Football Confederation. Despite this dissent, Infantino has confirmed plans to run for a fourth term in March, supported by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while Conmebal has declined to back a vote to remove him.
As the narrative surrounding Fifa continues to evolve, the tensions surrounding leadership decisions exemplify the complexities at play within football governance. The shifting allegiances and personal stakes involved remind us just how fiercely contested the power dynamics remain in the world of sports.
