FIFA sacks top official after Infantino criticism

FIFA's Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, has been sacked. According to a FIFA spokesperson, "the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA's Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026." The spokesperson added that FIFA thanks Lamour for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.

Lamour was let go after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. He described the proposal as "the project of one person" and said FIFA staff had been "deceived" over the plan. This plan, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plans, was later withdrawn by Infantino.

Lamour had joined FIFA's senior leadership group in November 2024, having previously been part of the inner circle that campaigned for Infantino's election as FIFA president in 2016. His comments were made last month, and FIFA's staff were informed of his departure in an email by its secretary general Mattias Grafstrom on Monday evening.

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