Fifa’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, has been sacked by the governing body following a significant and highly publicized critique of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s aborted plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. The news comes after Lamour strongly criticized the plan, published in a statement released on 17 August 2026, detailing the project’s controversial nature. This action follows a series of escalating criticisms from Lamour, who described the FFE initiative as ‘the project of one person’ and expressed his belief that the time had come for football political leaders to re-evaluate the situation.
In a formal communication to staff, Mattias Grafstrom, Secretary General of Fifa, confirmed Lamour’s departure, stating that ‘the working relationship between Fifa and Kevin Lamour as Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026.’ This notification was delivered via email, following a conversation between Lamour and his employer, which detailed the agreement to part ways.
Lamour acknowledged his duty of loyalty to his employer but also emphasized his commitment to certain values and supporting his colleagues. He added that Fifa’s own administration was ‘deceived’ about the now abandoned project. He further stated that his departure was a result of a disagreement with the project’s direction, and that he felt it was important that he personally provided an update to the Fifa Council.
Prior to this, Lamour had been vocal in his criticism of Infantino’s plan, suggesting that the FFE initiative was a ‘deceived’ project and undermining the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary Fifa employees. He previously served as Deputy General Secretary at Uefa and was two layers of management below Infantino. The situation gained further traction when Uefa and Concacaf publicly opposed the FFE plan, while Uefa threatened to boycott the World Cup if it progressed. Lamour had also been approached for comment.
Furthermore, BBC Sport was told that Lamour was not invited to the meeting in Morocco where the FFE plan was discussed, highlighting the unusual circumstances of his dismissal. Lamour has been approached for comment.
The controversy surrounding the FFE plan is deeply rooted in the broader context of FIFA’s commercial strategy. Infantino’s proposal to create a new company – FFE – aimed to manage the commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions, including the World Cups, and it received widespread criticism. The plan was aborted after Infantino’s plan to sell 21% of the company to private investment companies was criticized, leading to a significant backlash from Uefa, Concacaf, Uefa and Concacaf, and Uefa and Concacaf threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead. Lamour, in his statement, acknowledged his duty of loyalty to his employer but also stated his commitment to supporting his colleagues.
Lamour’s departure has intensified the pressure on Infantino, particularly in light of the upcoming FIFA Congress in March 2024, where he stands for a fourth presidential term. Several Concacaf members, including Mexico, broke ranks with their confederation to offer their support for Infantino, while the confederations of Africa, South America and Oceania have backed Infantino. The Scottish FA withdrew its support for Infantino following England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
FairSquare, a Concacaf member, sent a formal letter to Fifa demanding Infantino not be allowed to stand for re-election. The situation is complex, with Fifa’s own governance structure facing scrutiny and internal divisions. The controversy surrounding the FFE plan underscores the challenges facing FIFA in navigating its commercial interests while maintaining the integrity of the sport.
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Source: Adom Sports
