FIFA Confirms Exit Of Senior Official Kevin Lamour After He Criticised Gianni Infantino

FIFA has confirmed that Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour has left the organisation after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino over a controversial proposal to bring private investment into FIFA's commercial operations. Lamour's departure on 17 August comes only weeks after he condemned the plan, which was later withdrawn following widespread opposition from football stakeholders.

FIFA has confirmed the departure of one of its most senior officials, Kevin Lamour, following a period of growing internal and external pressure surrounding President Gianni Infantino's leadership.

Lamour, who served as FIFA's Chief Operating Officer, left the organisation on 17 August 2026, only weeks after publicly challenging Infantino's controversial proposal to attract private investment into FIFA's commercial business, including rights connected to the World Cup.

The timing of his exit has inevitably attracted attention, although FIFA has not officially stated that his criticism was the reason for the end of his tenure.

FIFA Confirms Lamour's Departure

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the working relationship between the organisation and Lamour had ended on 17 August.

The governing body thanked him for his service and wished him well for the future, but declined to provide further details about the circumstances surrounding his departure.

The organisation's official wording was that the working relationship had ended, while several major media outlets have described the development as Lamour being sacked or fired.

Lamour Had Criticised Infantino's Plan

Lamour became publicly critical of a proposal known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.

The plan involved creating a new commercial subsidiary that could have attracted private-equity investment by selling a stake in the business. The proposed structure was reported to have a potential value of around $20 billion, with FIFA seeking billions of dollars through the sale of a minority stake.

Lamour strongly objected to the proposal, raising concerns about transparency, trust and the way the project had been handled.

A Strong Public Rebuke

In his criticism, Lamour argued that FIFA's administration had been misled over aspects of the proposal.

He also accused Infantino of treating FIFA as though it represented his personal interests rather than serving the wider football community.

Lamour understood that speaking so openly could put his own position at risk and indicated that he was prepared to accept the consequences of challenging the plan.

The Proposal Was Eventually Withdrawn

The controversy surrounding the investment plan intensified rapidly.

Several football authorities raised concerns about the proposal, while FIFA faced increasing pressure from within and outside its administration. Infantino eventually withdrew the plan after the backlash.

The collapse of the initiative was followed by further questions about FIFA's governance and the concentration of decision-making power within the organisation.

Lamour's Background With FIFA And UEFA

Lamour joined FIFA's senior leadership in November 2024 after previously holding a senior position at UEFA.

His career had also brought him into contact with Infantino before the FIFA presidency. Lamour had been part of the wider circle that supported Infantino's successful campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016.

That history makes his later public criticism particularly significant.

Another Senior Figure Has Departed

Lamour's exit follows the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino who also opposed the controversial commercial proposal.

Cordeiro described the plan as a bad deal for football before stepping down, adding to the sense of internal disagreement surrounding FIFA's leadership.

The departures have intensified scrutiny of Infantino at a time when his position is already facing growing opposition.

Pressure On Infantino Continues

The dispute has developed beyond the failed investment proposal and into a wider debate about FIFA's governance.

UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf have all expressed opposition to aspects of Infantino's leadership and have called for an independent review of his conduct. He is also facing questions over his bid to seek a fourth term as FIFA president in 2027.

Several national associations have also begun questioning whether they will support his re-election.

What Lamour's Exit Means

Lamour's departure is significant because of his senior position within FIFA and his previous relationship with Infantino.

While FIFA has not confirmed that his criticism directly caused his exit, the close timing between his public opposition to the proposal and the end of his employment has inevitably fuelled questions about the internal climate at football's global governing body.

The situation also raises broader questions about how dissent and disagreement are handled within FIFA's senior leadership.

Ultimately, Kevin Lamour's departure marks another major development in the growing crisis surrounding Gianni Infantino's leadership of FIFA. His public criticism of the abandoned commercial investment plan placed him at the centre of a dispute over transparency and governance, and his exit now adds another layer to the controversy. With opposition to Infantino growing among several influential football bodies, the fallout from the failed proposal is unlikely to disappear quickly.