FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, has officially departed from the organization, as confirmed by FIFA on Monday. This move comes shortly after Lamour publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a share in FIFA’s tournament business, which includes the prestigious World Cup.
A FIFA spokesperson announced, “FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026.” The spokesperson expressed gratitude for Lamour’s two years of service and wished him success in his future endeavors, with no further comments on the matter.
The departure of Lamour was communicated to FIFA staff and Council members by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom via a letter on Monday. According to Sky News, both parties mutually agreed to part ways following recent discussions.
Lamour had raised objections to the proposed sell-off plan in the previous month, stating that FIFA staff had been misled and emphasizing that it appeared to be the initiative of one individual. He remarked, “Our mission is to serve football, not to cater to the personal interests of an individual who seems to consider himself the embodiment of FIFA instead of serving it.”
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to President Infantino, had also resigned in protest against the proposal, labeling it as detrimental to football. Lamour had joined FIFA in November 2024 and had previously been associated with Infantino’s inner circle during the campaign for his presidency in 2016.