FIFA sacks chief operating officer Lamour weeks after he called on Infantino to resign

FIFA has sacked its chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, effective 17 August 2026, weeks after he publicly accused president Gianni Infantino of deceiving staff and called on him to resign.

Lamour, a longtime colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and UEFA, had spoken out against the president’s plan to sell FIFA competitions — including the men’s World Cup — to private investors. He described the proposal as “the project of one person” and said he and his colleagues had been “deceived” by it. The plan has since been scrapped following widespread backlash.

FIFA declined to comment on the circumstances of Lamour’s exit but issued a brief statement confirming the end of the working relationship. “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 statement read. “FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.”

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom also wrote to staff to inform them of the departure. In his letter, Grafstrom acknowledged Lamour’s contributions since he joined the organisation in November 2024, citing “improved relationships with stakeholders and the delivery of several significant projects.”

“Following recent discussions, FIFA and our Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour have agreed to part ways,” Grafstrom wrote. “This decision was made after careful consideration and with great respect for Kevin, both personally and professionally.”

The 45-year-old Frenchman had been unambiguous in his criticism of Infantino’s leadership last month, writing: “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.”

Infantino, who has held the FIFA presidency since 2016, is facing mounting scrutiny over the private investment plan and his broader leadership of world football’s governing body. Lamour’s dismissal is likely to intensify that pressure, coming so shortly after his public rebuke.