FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has left his position at world football's governing body following his vocal opposition to president Gianni Infantino, FIFA announced on Monday.
A spokesperson for the organization confirmed that the collaboration between FIFA and Lamour ended on August 17, 2026, following an initial report by news outlet The Athletic. The representative added that FIFA thanked Lamour for his two years of service and wished him well for the future, noting that no further comment would be made.
Lamour, a French administrator who was effectively FIFA's third highest ranking official, had served as chief operating officer since November 2024. In that role, he oversaw key administrative areas including legal affairs, communications, and personnel management, having previously worked for European governing body UEFA.
His exit comes amid growing friction within FIFA over Infantino's leadership style and strategic proposals. Lamour had emerged as one of the most prominent internal critics of a plan championed by Infantino to open FIFA to private investors, a proposal that has since been abandoned.
Public criticism of Infantino plan
In a statement sent to the Associated Press news agency and published on July 31, Lamour launched a sharp attack on the private investment initiative, describing it as the project of a single person. He argued that not only should the plan never be realized, but that football leaders needed to ask fundamental questions and make the correct decisions for the sport.
Lamour also raised concerns over workplace culture, insisting that FIFA staff deserved better than contempt and intimidation. Acknowledging the personal risk of speaking out, he stated that if voicing his objections cost him his job he would accept and respect that outcome, adding that he would at least sleep well at night.
Although Infantino ultimately dropped the investor proposal, the controversy has left deep divisions across global football administration. The fallout arrives as the Italian-Swiss president prepares to stand for re-election to another term at the helm of FIFA in March 2027.
Wider opposition within FIFA leadership
Lamour was not alone among senior officials in breaking ranks with Infantino over the proposed commercial expansion. Former manager Arsene Wenger and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, the organization's second in command, both publicly welcomed the decision to scrap the initiative.
FIFA, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, oversees international football competitions and governance across its member associations worldwide. With Lamour's departure on August 17, 2026, the organization faces ongoing scrutiny over its administrative management ahead of its upcoming electoral congress.
