A top official leaves FIFA, deepening the fallout from Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour , has…
FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, has reportedly resigned from his position just weeks after criticizing FIFA president Gianni Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan. Lamour, based in Zurich, wrote a statement defending his colleagues amid the backlash from the plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private equity funds.
He accused Infantino of deceiving staff by being non-transparent in the planning process. Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, also reportedly left the organization, describing the $20 billion commercial subsidiary plan as "a bad deal for football." FIFA confirmed Lamour's departure, thanking him for his two years of service and wishing him well in the future.
Infantino is currently seeking re-election as FIFA president but faces significant pressure following an open letter from heads of three continental confederations alleging a "fundamental breach of trust" and labeling the plan as "deception." The World Cup sell-off proposal was withdrawn following intense criticism from global soccer officials, including UEFA, which threatened to boycott all FIFA events.
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