Fifa has terminated the employment of its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, less than three weeks after he issued a sharp public critique of president Gianni Infantino. The governing body confirmed that the professional relationship between the organization and Lamour concluded on August 17, 2026, with a spokesperson stating that Fifa thanked him for his two years of service.
Staff members were informed of the departure on Monday evening via an email from secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, who described the exit as a mutual agreement to part ways. In a separate letter to members of the Fifa Council, Grafstrom noted that the decision followed careful consideration and expressed gratitude for Lamour’s contributions.
The dismissal follows Lamour’s vocal opposition to the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, a plan to sell 21% of a new company managing commercial and ticketing rights for major tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors. Last month, Lamour characterized the initiative as the project of a single individual, arguing that football’s political leaders needed to make better decisions. He further alleged that the Fifa administration had been misled regarding the now-abandoned project.
Reflecting on his stance, Lamour had previously stated that while he owed loyalty to his employer, he also held a duty to specific values and his colleagues. He noted at the time that if his dissent cost him his position, he would accept the consequences, adding, “At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Lamour, who joined Fifa in November 2024 after serving as deputy general secretary at Uefa, operated two management levels below the president. Reports indicate he was excluded from a recent meeting in Morocco where Infantino secured the backing of several senior executives.
The FFE proposal collapsed following widespread backlash from major confederations, including Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation. Uefa had even threatened a potential boycott of the World Cup if the plan proceeded. The fallout has left Infantino facing significant pressure, with Uefa and Concacaf withdrawing their support for his upcoming bid for a fourth presidential term at the March 2027 Congress.
While some individual members, such as Mexico, have broken with their confederations to back the president, and the governing bodies of Africa, South America, and Oceania remain supportive, opposition is growing elsewhere. On Monday, the Scottish FA joined the football associations of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland in withdrawing support for Infantino.
The internal turmoil at Fifa has also drawn external scrutiny, with the football governance charity FairSquare formally requesting that Infantino be barred from standing for re-election. In addition to Lamour’s departure, the controversy surrounding the FFE plans previously led to the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to the president. The report also notes that dedicated, and exemplary Fifa employees – is to serve football”, he added, our mission – the mission of the hundreds of passionate. The report also notes that unite them, and inspire them, a president must bring people together. The report also notes that then so be it,” he added, if that means I lose my job. The report also notes that and seen by Sport, Grafstrom wrote: “I would like to provide you with an important update regarding a change within the Fifa Administration, in a letter sent to members of Fifa’s Council. The report also notes that both personally and professionally⦠I felt it was important that I personally provide you this update and I would like to express my gratitude to Kevin for these contributions and for his work and commitment on behalf of Fifa on a daily basis, this decision was made after careful consideration and with great respect for Kevin. The report also notes that i wish Kevin all the best for the future.
