A top official leaves FIFA, deepening the fallout from Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan

FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, has reportedly resigned from his position at the organization's governing body just weeks after criticizing FIFA president Gianni Infantino for allegedly deceiving staff with his World Cup sell-off plan. Lamour, who is based in Zurich, openly challenged Infantino to remove him from his role in an August 1 statement defending his colleagues amidst the fallout from the plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private equity funds.

He described staff as "deceived" by Infantino's lack of transparency in planning. On the same day Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, also announced his departure, stating that the $20 billion commercial subsidiary plan was "a bad deal for football." FIFA confirmed Lamour's departure, thanking him for his two years of service and wishing him the best in the future, without providing further details.

Infantino, seeking re-election as FIFA president, faced mounting pressure after heads of three continental confederations issued a letter alleging the World Cup plan was a "fundamental breach of trust" and labeled it "deception." Infantino withdrew the plan following backlash from global soccer officials, including UEFA, which threatened a boycott of all FIFA events.

Some national federations have withdrawn their support, but six Arab soccer federations recently expressed full backing for Infantino. Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, was expected to be re-elected unopposed in Morocco, but FIFA has set a deadline of November 18 for challengers to enter the race.