FIFA COO Kevin Lamour Exits After Criticizing Gianni Infantino

FIFA announced that Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour has left the organization, weeks after he publicly criticized Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed on Monday, August 17, 2026, that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer has ended. FIFA thanked Kevin for his two years of service and wished him luck for the future, stating no further comment would be made. Lamour joined FIFA's senior leadership group in November 2024, having previously been part of the inner circle that campaigned for Infantino’s election as FIFA president in 2016.

His responsibilities included overseeing finance, legal and compliance, communications, member associations, technology and operations, and social responsibility across FIFA's offices in Zurich, Paris, and Miami. Lamour had publicly criticized the proposal last month, stating FIFA staff had been deceived over the plan and describing it as the project of one person. 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."

Lamour's comments came soon after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest against the proposal, calling it a bad deal for football. Infantino subsequently withdrew the proposal later the same day. The proposal aimed to create a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and sell up to a 20% stake to private equity investors to raise $4.2 billion.

The plan faced widespread opposition, with three regional football governing bodies (UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC) calling it a fundamental breach and stating it should not go ahead. The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) also supported the withdrawal of the FFE proposal, emphasizing good governance, transparency, and respect for institutional processes. Human rights organization FairSquare has urged FIFA to rule Gianni Infantino ineligible to seek another term as president, arguing he has already reached the three-term limit set out in the governing body's statutes.