FIFA has parted ways with Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour after he criticised President Gianni Infantino over a proposed commercial investment plan.
FIFA confirmed Lamour’s departure on 17 August 2026, after he opposed the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have created a commercial subsidiary valued at about $20 billion and allowed private investors to buy a 20% stake.
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.”
The spokesperson added: “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 criticised the proposal in July, saying FIFA staff had been “deceived” during discussions about the plan. He also said employees “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.”
He described the proposal as “the project of one person” and called on football leaders to stop it.
Lamour said: “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”
He also accepted that his criticism could cost him his job.
Lamour said: “And if that means I lose my job then so be it.” He added: “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Lamour later criticised Infantino’s approach to FIFA’s leadership.
He said: “Our mission … is to serve football. Not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service.”
Infantino withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal after opposition from football organisations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF.
Lamour joined FIFA in November 2024 after serving as UEFA’s deputy general secretary. Before leaving FIFA, he worked as one of the organisation’s senior executives under Infantino.
His departure followed the resignation of Infantino adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who opposed the commercial plan and called it “a bad deal for football.”
