FIFA confirms that Kevin Lamour has left his role as chief operating officer after publicly criticizing FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s World Cup commercial plans. Multiple outlets report that Lamour’s departure follows his opposition to a proposal that would have involved selling stakes or rights related to the tournament.
Several sources say Lamour had warned that challenging Infantino’s plan could affect his position, and that he described the proposal in strongly worded terms. They also report that the plan was later abandoned amid backlash from other football confederations, including UEFA and AFC, with concerns raised about trust and the integrity of leadership decisions. FIFA communications described the change as the end of a working relationship reached “with careful consideration,” and, in some reports, refer to an agreement to part ways.
Outlets differ in emphasis: some characterize the move as a dismissal or firing, while others frame it as a mutually agreed exit. One report also adds allegations of a payment arrangement, while FIFA’s statements cited in coverage focus on the formal separation date and Lamour’s two years in the role.
