Top Fifa official sacked after Infantino plan criticism
August 17, 2026 22:46
Fifa announced on 17 August 2026 that Kevin Lamour is no longer its chief operating officer, ending his employment after just under two years with the organisation. A Fifa spokesperson confirmed the working relationship ended on that date, and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom told staff the organisation and Lamour had "agreed to part ways."
The departure comes less than three weeks after Lamour publicly criticised president Gianni Infantino’s aborted plan to create Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). Lamour had accused the project of being driven by a single person and said Fifa’s administration had been misled; he also accepted that speaking out could cost him his job.
KEY CONTEXT
- Lamour joined Fifa in November 2024, having previously been deputy general secretary at Uefa, and he reported two layers below Infantino.
- The FFE proposal would have created a company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for Fifa competitions; Infantino planned to sell 21% of that company to private investors.
- The FFE scheme was abandoned after widespread criticism. Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation publicly opposed the plan, with Uefa threatening to boycott the World Cup if it proceeded.
- A senior adviser to Infantino, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned amid the controversy.
WHY IT MATTERS
Lamour’s exit follows an unusually public internal dispute at the heart of Fifa, highlighting divisions over governance and commercial strategy at the organisation. The collapse of the FFE proposal already reshaped political alignments ahead of the next Fifa presidential vote: Uefa and Concacaf withdrew their support for Infantino’s re-election bid, while Confederations from Africa, South America and Oceania have backed him. The episode underscores tensions between Fifa’s leadership and parts of its administration and membership over the direction of commercialisation and oversight.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Fifa names a replacement for the chief operating officer and how quickly that appointment is made.
- Any follow-up actions inside Fifa relating to the FFE proposal or internal governance processes referenced by Lamour.
- Political developments among confederations and member associations ahead of the Fifa Congress in March, when Infantino is standing for a fourth term.
KEY FACTS
- Fifa confirmed Lamour’s employment ended on 17 August 2026; the organisation thanked him for two years of service.
- Lamour joined Fifa in November 2024, after serving as deputy general secretary at Uefa.
- Lamour publicly criticised the aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise plan and said Fifa’s administration had been deceived.
- The FFE proposal included selling 21% of a new company to private investors and was dropped after opposition from several confederations.
- Uefa and Concacaf withdrew support for Infantino’s re-election; Africa, South America and Oceania backed him. Some Concacaf members, including Mexico, offered support for Infantino despite their confederation’s stance.