FIFA said on Monday that Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour had left the organisation, weeks after he publicly criticised President Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments.
A FIFA spokesperson said the working relationship between the governing body and Lamour had ended on August 17, thanking him for two years of service and wishing him well, adding that no further comment would be made. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom told staff and council members in a letter that the split was reached mutually and with respect for Lamour both personally and professionally.
Lamour, 45, had joined FIFA’s senior leadership team in November 2024 after previously serving as UEFA’s deputy general secretary. He was part of the inner circle that campaigned for Infantino’s surprise election as FIFA president in 2016. Last month he accused FIFA staff of being deceived over the proposal to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial entity, valued at roughly $20 billion, calling it the initiative of a single individual and saying the organisation existed to serve football rather than personal interests.
His comments followed the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, who also condemned the plan. The proposal drew sharp criticism from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, with UEFA threatening to boycott future FIFA competitions, prompting FIFA to withdraw the plan altogether.
Infantino has faced mounting pressure over the episode, including an open letter from three confederation presidents accusing him of deception, and the loss of support from the Scottish Football Association. Advocacy group FairSquare has separately questioned whether Infantino is eligible to stand for re-election at next year’s congress.
