FIFA sacks COO Kevin Lamour after criticizing Gianni Infantino

sportsAug 18, 202625820

FIFA confirmed that chief operating officer Kevin Lamour left the governing body on 17 August 2026, less than three weeks after he publicly criticised president Gianni Infantino’s aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. Lamour had called the proposal "the project of one person" and said FIFA's administration had been "deceived," adding that a president should "bring people together"; he also said he accepted the risk of losing his job for speaking out. Secretary general Mattias Grafstrom informed staff by email and in a letter to the FIFA Council that FIFA and Lamour had "agreed to part ways" and thanked him for two years of service; Lamour joined FIFA in November 2024 and was two layers of management below Infantino. The FFE proposal had been aborted after Infantino sought to create a company to manage commercial and ticketing rights and to sell 21 percent to private investors, a plan publicly opposed by UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation. UEFA threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead, and after the proposal was shelved UEFA and Concacaf later withdrew their support for Infantino's bid for a fourth presidential term. The episode also saw Infantino receive backing from senior executives at a meeting in Morocco from which Lamour was not invited, and a senior adviser to Infantino, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned amid the row.

Johnny Ninefingers

@johnnyninefingers.bsky.social

Gianni Infantino is a fucking employee of football, he doesn't fucking own it. This is difficult for some people to understand, including Infantino.

39844d ago

Ubique4

Infantino has "Trump" syndrome. A belief you are the King of the Realm.

VinylDestination 🇵🇸3

He complained that the FA must stop using the song Three Lions because it uses the lyrics “it’s coming home”, because he thinks it excludes all the other footballing nations and yet he thinks it’s his commodity. The man needs to go.

Gerald3

Sounds like someone else we all know. This someone thinks he owns the United States.

Marie-Helene3

He’s like Trump, he thinks he owns the joint, but he’s a tenant with a term lease.

yitzi2.bsky.social1

Much like Trump's relationship with the USA. No wonder they get along so well.

Left, Fiscal, World Order Guy, Anti Trump MAGA Racists, Science 1

GOT GO.. whats taking so long.. FEDERATIONS need to demand this group be CLEANED UP.

BladeoftheSun

@bladeofthes.bsky.social

FIFA has sacked its chief operating officer Kevin Lamour after he publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino’s $20 billion World Cup private equity sell-off project. DESTROY FIFA.

14244d ago

Quoting this

BladeoftheSun240

There's only one choice left, boycott FIFA and the World Cup, refuse to play in it, refuse to watch it, refuse even to mention it. And NEVER stop talking about FIFA's blatant disgusting corruption.

Miguel Delaney

@migueldelaney.bsky.social

Infantino critic Kevin Lamour leaves Fifa It was Infantino's lieutenant Grafstrom, rather than Infantino himself, who was detailed to have the final discussion with Lamour This has taken senior football figures aback www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

6045d ago

Fail We May… Sail We Must!4

I’m so sick of seeing his face.

Pudsey2

I'm surprised anything FIFA (read Infantino) does takes anyone aback nowadays!

Quoting this

Peter Geoghegan52

It’s like a mafia family, where the don sends out a consigliere to deliver the head shot

Marcus2

Vår kära svenska FIFA-rep är en orm.

Tariq Panja

@tariqpanja.bsky.social

Kevin Lamour, the FIFA COO who penned the letter that panned Infantino’s plan to sell the World Cup, and accused him of being deceitful, has now been fired by FIFA. Lamour had also called into question Infantino’s general leadership as FIFA boss.

3645d ago

Quoting this

Adam Levitt10

Why am I not surprised in the slightest? 🤦🏻‍♂️

Le Monde

@lemonde.fr

La FIFA licencie le Français Kevin Lamour, numéro trois de l’instance qui s’est opposé à Gianni Infantino

1845d ago

Quoting this

L'ÂNE KROKRO52

Maintenant qu'il a du temps libre on va sûrement voir Lamour à la plage.

Dédé Lajoie6

Lamour s'est fait larguer ?

James Dart

@jamesdart.bsky.social

Fifa COO, Kevin Lamour, has been sacked after openly criticising Gianni Infantino’s ill-fated plan to sell parts of the World Cup to private investors

1645d ago

Craig's Late Night Douche Bag Patrol🦘🦘🦘

@vincentsworkisdone.bsky.social

Fifa chief sacked after criticism of Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan. The Guardian. Wrong headline. It should read. Gianni Infantino sacks COO of FIFA for criticism of Infantino's sell off plan. Fixed it. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

1844d ago

Patrick - Here for the craic❗️🤷🏼‍♂️😉

@paddyopatrick.bsky.social

FIFA main board and Infantino's needs to be fired.. they have single-handedly trashed its credibility suspending a Red Card pandering to Trump and now firing anyone who criticizes their corrupt plans.. it’s Trump’s playbook Until they do, they should be boycotted completely as too toxic❗️

1345d ago

Blue Ted

@vicsq.bsky.social

FIFA mafia spiv Infantino has fired Kevin Lamour for criticising corrupt sell-off of the World Cup. The ugly decaying face of capitalist football 2026. Matters will deteriorate even further as long as fans apathy exists.

1944d ago

Scouse Git

@scouse-git.bsky.social

More fall-out from Infantino's scam cancellation, as FIFA's lack of transparency or honesty continues... #FuckInfantino #FuckFIFA

1545d ago

The Canary

@thecanaryuk.bsky.social

Kevin Lamour said he was prepared to lose his job for opposing Infantino’s World Cup plan — weeks later, FIFA showed him the door.

1044d ago

Andrea Woo

@andreawoo.bsky.social

FIFA fires COO Kevin Lamour, who publicly criticized pres Infantino’s ⁠plan to sell stake in tournament business, inc the World Cup. Lamour said last month proposal was "the project of one person." If he loses job, "So be it... at least I'll sleep well." www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/socce...

1045d ago

😡moth😀

@7amkickoff.com

FIFA boss Infantino was criticized for his plan to privatize the World Cup and enrich himself and the Trump family, so FIFA took the only action that made any sense and sacked the FIFA official who... criticized the plan. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

1045d ago