Fifa has dismissed chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, less than three weeks after he publicly condemned president Gianni Infantino’s abandoned proposal to sell interests in competitions to private investors.
A Fifa representative confirmed in a statement that the organisation’s working relationship with Lamour in his role as chief operating officer ended on 17 August 2026.
The governing body thanked Lamour for his two years of service and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Employees learned about his departure through an email sent on Monday evening by secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, who said Fifa and Lamour had mutually decided to go their separate ways.
Last month, Lamour called the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal the work of a single individual and urged football’s political leaders to confront the relevant issues and take appropriate action.
He also claimed that Fifa’s administration had been misled about the project before it was ultimately withdrawn.
Lamour said the organisation’s hundreds of committed and professional employees shared a responsibility to serve football.
He argued that a president should unite, motivate and bring people together, but said the organisation was currently moving in the opposite direction.
Lamour accepted that he owed loyalty to his employer, while stressing that he also had an obligation to uphold certain principles and stand by his colleagues.
He said he was prepared to lose his position over his stance and would accept such an outcome, adding that he could remain at peace with his decision.
Lamour joined Fifa in November 2024 after previously working as Uefa’s deputy general secretary. His position was two management levels beneath Infantino.
Earlier this month, senior executives expressed their support for Infantino during a meeting in Morocco, which Lamour reportedly did not attend because he had not been invited.
Lamour was asked to provide a response regarding his departure.
In a letter addressed to members of the Fifa Council, Grafstrom informed them of an important leadership change within the organisation’s administration.
Grafstrom explained that, after recent talks and careful consideration, Fifa and Lamour had agreed to end their professional relationship. He expressed personal and professional respect for Lamour, thanked him for his daily work and contributions to the organisation, and wished him success in the future.
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