Fifa has announced the dismissal of senior executive Kevin Lamour following his public criticism of president Gianni Infantino, sending a ‘deeply troubling’ message to all stakeholders seeking change, according to Uefa vice-president Laura McAllister.
Lamour’s departure was confirmed on Monday evening, just over two weeks after he released a statement criticizing the administration’s plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. His statement outlined concerns about the scheme’s potential to compromise the integrity of the football world, and his dismissal came amidst growing pressure on Infantino.
McAllister, a former Wales captain who worked with Lamour at European football’s governing body when he was its deputy general secretary, released a statement criticizing his sacking. She stated that Lamour is ‘a deeply principled leader who cared passionately for football’ and ‘a brave advocate for the values that should underpin all we do as custodians of our game.’
Furthermore, Uefa executive committee member McAllister acknowledged that Lamour was a trusted colleague and that he demonstrated courage in advocating for key stakeholders in football. During the past weeks, Lamour’s actions were seen as a courageous advocate for the most important stakeholders in football.
Fifa abruptly aborted a plan to sell stakes in the body’s football competitions on August 1st, one day after Lamour’s statement, which described the scheme as ‘the project of one person.’ Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned earlier that same day, putting pressure on Infantino, who ultimately received the backing of senior Fifa executives in a meeting in Morocco where Lamour was not present.
Uefa has already stated it has lost confidence in Infantino, calling the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal a ‘shabby, back-room, opaque deal.’
The Football Associations of England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland have withdrawn their support for Infantino and will not be voting for his re-election as president in early 2027. McAllister emphasized that Lamour’s sacking weakens Fifa’s administration and undermines the organization’s unique opportunity to shift the culture at Fifa and to reset the organisation on sporting values, not simply commercial and financial ones.
“As I have said repeatedly,” McAllister added, “world football needs strong, principled, independent leaders who are prepared to speak up, challenge when necessary, and stand firmly by their values and those of the global game.”
The dismissal is widely interpreted as a significant blow to Fifa’s credibility and governance, with many observers believing it represents a serious erosion of trust within the organization.
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Source: Adom Sports
