FIFA has confirmed the departure of Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, ending his tenure just weeks after he publicly challenged FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a proposed private investment plan involving the organisation's tournament business.
Lamour's exit has raised questions about whether his criticism of the plan played a role in his departure.
FIFA said Lamour's professional relationship with the organisation ended on August 17, 2026. However, the governing body did not provide a reason for the decision.
Sky News, meanwhile, reported that FIFA staff were told Lamour had been sacked.
Why did Kevin Lamour clash with Gianni Infantino?
Lamour had publicly criticised a proposal backed by Infantino to restructure FIFA's commercial operations.
The plan involved creating a new subsidiary to manage major tournament rights and seeking up to $4.2 billion from private investors in exchange for a minority stake.
Lamour questioned the process and argued that FIFA employees had not been adequately informed about the proposal.
He also raised concerns about whether the restructuring was in the wider interests of football.
The controversy intensified after Lamour acknowledged that speaking publicly against the proposal could potentially cost him his position.
Was Kevin Lamour sacked by FIFA?
FIFA has not officially said that Lamour was sacked.
The organisation confirmed only that its working relationship with Lamour had ended on August 17.
However, Sky News reported that FIFA staff were informed that Lamour had been dismissed.
That creates a clear distinction between what FIFA has officially confirmed and what has been reported about the circumstances of his exit.
There is currently no official statement establishing that Lamour's public criticism of Infantino's investment plan directly caused his departure.
Lamour was not the only senior figure to oppose the plan
Lamour's departure follows the resignation of senior Infantino adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who also opposed the private investment proposal.
The plan faced resistance from several sections of football's governing structure.
With opposition mounting, Infantino eventually withdrew the proposal.
The sequence of events has since increased scrutiny over FIFA's internal decision-making and the level of dissent tolerated within the organisation.
Why is Infantino facing pressure?
Lamour's departure comes at a sensitive time for Infantino, with the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.
Infantino is already facing criticism from several football organisations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which have called for an independent review of his conduct.
His eligibility to seek another term has also become a point of dispute.
Critics argue that Infantino has already reached FIFA's three-term limit. Infantino disputes that interpretation, maintaining that his initial 2016-19 period should not count because he completed an interrupted mandate.
What does Lamour's exit mean for FIFA?
Lamour's departure adds another layer to the debate surrounding Infantino's leadership.
The former COO was part of FIFA's senior management and had worked closely with Infantino before publicly challenging the proposed commercial restructuring.
While FIFA has not linked his departure to that disagreement, the timing has inevitably drawn attention.
The key question now is whether Lamour's exit was a routine leadership change or whether his opposition to Infantino's investment strategy contributed to his dismissal.
For now, FIFA has confirmed the departure but has not provided an explanation, while reports that Lamour was sacked remain unconfirmed by the organisation.
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