FIFA has terminated the contract of its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, weeks after he publicly criticised president Gianni Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Lamour, who joined FIFA less than two years ago after serving as UEFA’s deputy secretary general, had strongly opposed the proposed FFE scheme.
He accused FIFA’s administration of being “deceived” and said the president “believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service”.
The controversial plan was abandoned on 31 July, only hours after Lamour publicly voiced his opposition.
At the time, he acknowledged that his stance could cost him his position.
“If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” he said in a statement. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Lamour also criticised the treatment of FIFA employees, saying his colleagues “deserve better than contempt and intimidation”. He added, “My feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us.”
His departure was communicated to FIFA staff by secretary general Mattias Grafström.
The exact reasons behind the termination have not been disclosed.
Confirming Lamour’s exit, a FIFA spokesperson said, “Fifa can confirm that the working relationship between Fifa and Kevin Lamour as Fifa’s chief operating officer has ended on 17 August 2026. Fifa thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future. No further comment will be made on the matter.”
Lamour’s exit is particularly notable because of his previous professional relationship with Infantino. The two worked together during Lamour’s time at UEFA, where he first joined in 2007.
The development comes as Infantino faces mounting pressure following the collapse of the World Cup investment proposal. On the same day Lamour spoke out, one of Infantino’s senior advisers, Carlos Cordeiro, also resigned in opposition to the proposals.
Efforts to challenge Infantino’s leadership are continuing as scrutiny of FIFA’s administration intensifies.
