By Sachit Subba • Football • Aug 18, 2026 02:52 AM • 48 views
FIFA removed Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour from his position on Monday, confirming his departure weeks after he publicly criticised President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a stake in the organisation's tournament business.
A FIFA spokesperson said Lamour’s employment ended on August 17, 2026, thanked him for his two years of service, and declined further comment. According to Sky News, Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom informed staff and Council members in an internal letter that both parties agreed to part ways after recent discussions.
Last month, Lamour said FIFA leadership had misled staff about a proposed $20 billion subsidiary intended to manage major global tournaments, including the World Cup. He said the initiative appeared driven by one individual rather than reflecting an organisational strategy.
"Our mission ... is to serve football," Lamour said in a statement released during the dispute. "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 termination highlights internal conflict within FIFA’s executive leadership. The organisation faced resistance to Infantino’s proposal to sell up to a 20 per cent stake in the new subsidiary to external investors, which would have changed international football’s financial structure. Opposition ultimately led FIFA to withdraw the proposal.
The governance crisis extends beyond Lamour. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest just hours before Lamour’s public criticism, calling the investment proposal a bad deal for the sport. He had been within Infantino's inner circle during the successful 2016 presidential election campaign and officially joined the governing body in November 2024. The relationship deteriorated rapidly over the commercialisation dispute.
FIFA now faces the immediate task of replacing a key executive and addressing the operational gap left by Lamour, while also managing the political fallout from the failed financial initiative. Removing a dissenting executive signals to staff the consequences of opposing presidential initiatives.
