World football governing body FIFA has dismissed its chief operations officer Kevin Lamour with immediate effect following his public criticism of president Gianni Infantino.
The decision to remove the 46-year-old French executive, who served as the third-ranking official at the global organization, was taken on Monday, August 17, 2026. A source close to the matter confirmed the dismissal to Radio France on Tuesday, August 18, following an initial report by American news outlet The Athletic.
An internal FIFA source informed The Athletic that the organization thanked Lamour for his two years of service and wished him the best for the future, adding that no further comments would be made on the subject.
Lamour had recently voiced opposition to a controversial plan proposed by Infantino to create an external company owned by private investors. The venture was intended to manage commercial activities and major tournaments, including the World Cup, before the FIFA president ultimately abandoned the initiative.
The former executive made his objections public in a statement released to American news agency Associated Press on July 31, 2026. Lamour criticized the plan as a one-person project and said employees had been deceived, adding that staff deserved better than contempt and intimidation. He also noted that if he lost his job, at least he would sleep with a clear conscience.
Wider opposition and executive resignations
Lamour was not the only senior figure within football governance to raise concerns over the privatization plan. Carlos Cordeiro, an advisor to Infantino, resigned from his post on July 31 after stating that he categorically opposed the initiative. Meanwhile, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who serves as FIFA's chief of global football development, also distanced himself from the proposal.
Opposition to the commercial restructuring also grew among regional governing bodies. European football authority UEFA threatened to boycott the next World Cup over the proposal, while the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, known as CONCACAF, demanded a complete overhaul of the FIFA president's governance.
Career background and upcoming FIFA election
Before his appointment as FIFA chief general manager of operations on November 1, 2024, Lamour built a long career in sports administration. After studying law and communication, the French official joined European governing body UEFA as deputy general secretary in 2007.
The dismissal comes seven months before the next FIFA presidential election, in which the Italian-Swiss president Infantino is currently the sole candidate. To win a final four-year term leading the Zurich-based organization, Infantino will need to secure the support of at least 211 member national federations.
