FIFA has ended the appointment of its Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, in a development coming just weeks after the senior official publicly criticised President Gianni Infantino over a controversial commercial proposal.
The world football governing body confirmed Lamour’s departure on Monday, August 17, 2026, saying his working relationship with the organisation had officially ended.
A FIFA spokesperson said: “The working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026.”
The organisation also thanked Lamour for his two years of service.
Lamour Had Openly Criticised Infantino
Lamour’s exit comes less than a month after he raised serious concerns over Infantino’s leadership and his proposal to establish a new company to oversee FIFA’s commercial and ticketing rights.
The former COO had described the initiative as essentially a “one-man project”, while accusing FIFA’s administration of being misled over the proposal.
Lamour also questioned Infantino’s approach to leadership, arguing that the FIFA president should be focused on bringing people together and building consensus.
“A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite,” Lamour had said.
His criticism came as opposition mounted against plans to sell a 21 per cent stake in the proposed commercial entity to private investment firms.
FIFA Commercial Plan Sparks Backlash
The proposed company, known as FFE, was eventually abandoned following resistance from several influential football organisations.
UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation reportedly opposed the plan, with UEFA also linked to threats of a potential World Cup boycott if the proposal went ahead.
The controversy has since created further challenges for Infantino as he seeks support for another term as FIFA president.
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UEFA and Concacaf have reportedly withdrawn their backing for his re-election bid, while opposition has also emerged from national football associations.
The Scottish Football Association announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its endorsement of Infantino, joining England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in distancing themselves from his candidacy.
Infantino Still Has Support In Africa, South America
Despite the growing opposition from parts of Europe and other regions, Infantino continues to enjoy backing from several football confederations.
The confederations representing Africa, South America and Oceania have maintained their support for the FIFA president.
Lamour’s departure therefore adds another layer to the growing controversy surrounding Infantino’s leadership, particularly at a time when the FIFA president is attempting to consolidate support ahead of the next presidential election.
For now, FIFA has not publicly linked Lamour’s departure to his criticism of Infantino or the abandoned commercial proposal.