Fifa official sacked after Infantino plan criticism

Fifa's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has been dismissed from the organization, just three weeks after he publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. A spokesperson for Fifa confirmed that the working relationship between Lamour and Infantino ended on August 17, 2026.

Lamour thanked Fifa for his two years of service and wished the organization and Infantino well in the future. He described Infantino's plans as "the project of one person" and stated that it was time for football's political leaders to ask the right questions and make the right decisions. Lamour acknowledged his duty of loyalty to his employer and values, and stated that if losing his job was necessary, he would understand and respect that decision.

Infantino's proposal to create a new company, the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions was met with widespread criticism and opposition from various confederations, leading to its eventual abandonment. Lamour also criticized Infantino's leadership style, stating that a president should unite and inspire people, but in this case, the opposite was happening.

The Scottish FA became the latest body to withdraw its support for Infantino, joining England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland in doing so.