FIFA has parted ways with its Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, following a bitter internal dispute over President Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to bring private investors into the commercial business surrounding the World Cup.
The world football governing body confirmed that Lamour’s working relationship with FIFA ended on August 17, 2026, bringing his nearly two-year spell as COO to an abrupt conclusion. FIFA did not publicly give a reason for his departure.
His exit comes only weeks after he openly challenged Infantino over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, FFE, a commercial subsidiary that would have taken control of major commercial and event operations connected with FIFA competitions.
Lamour accused FIFA’s leadership of lacking transparency over the project and argued that officials inside the organisation had not been properly informed about how the proposal was being developed.
He also publicly acknowledged that speaking out could cost him his position.
The controversy quickly became one of the most serious internal challenges facing FIFA’s leadership, with opposition spreading beyond senior officials at the Zurich headquarters to powerful football confederations.
The proposal envisaged the creation of a company valued at about $20 billion, with FIFA considering the sale of a minority stake to outside investors. Reuters reported when the proposal emerged in July that investors could have been offered up to 20 per cent of the new entity.
Why FIFA’s $20bn commercial plan triggered a major revolt
The significance of FIFA Forward Enterprise went far beyond another sponsorship or investment arrangement.
The proposed company was designed to oversee commercial and event operations tied to FIFA’s most valuable competitions, including the World Cup, potentially giving private investors a financial stake in a business built around football’s biggest tournament.
That prospect triggered strong resistance within international football.
UEFA was among the organisations that opposed the proposal, while concerns were also raised over how much influence private investors could gain over revenues generated by FIFA competitions. The backlash eventually forced FIFA to abandon the initiative.
Lamour was one of the most senior FIFA officials to publicly challenge the project.
His departure therefore deepens the fallout from the failed proposal and places renewed attention on Infantino’s leadership as FIFA heads towards another presidential election.
Lamour had served as FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer since November 2024 and previously worked at UEFA.
The crisis has also extended beyond FIFA’s headquarters.
Several football bodies have withdrawn or reconsidered their support for Infantino amid wider concerns surrounding the abandoned commercial project and his bid for another term as president. Reuters reported that UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf were among the confederations opposing him, although he retains significant support elsewhere in world football.
Despite the controversy surrounding Lamour’s departure, FIFA has stopped short of publicly linking his exit directly to his criticism of Infantino.
The governing body simply confirmed that their working relationship had ended and thanked the former COO for his service.
But the timing of his departure, coming shortly after his public attack on one of Infantino’s most ambitious commercial proposals, has intensified scrutiny of the growing divisions at the top of world football.
