FIFA confirmed on Monday that it has fired Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour [1, 3].
The dismissal follows a public rift between the top executive and FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the governing body's commercial strategy. The conflict highlights internal instability within the organization as it navigates high-stakes financial restructuring.
Lamour was removed from his position weeks after publicly criticizing Infantino [4]. The dispute centered on a proposal to sell a stake in the commercial assets of the World Cup to private investors [2, 4].
Lamour said that FIFA staff had been "deceived" regarding the stake-sale plan [2]. He said the initiative was "the project of one person" [2].
FIFA is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland [3]. A spokesperson for the organization said that Lamour has left the governing body [3]. While some reports describe the exit as a departure, other sources confirm the move was a dismissal [1, 3].
The internal friction occurs as FIFA prepares for the 2027 presidential election [4]. This election will determine the future leadership of the global soccer body, and the direction of its commercial assets.
Lamour had served as a key senior executive within the organization before the disagreement over the private-investment plan led to his exit [2, 4].
“Staff had been ‘deceived’ over the World Cup stake‑sale plan”
The removal of a high-ranking official like the COO suggests a low tolerance for internal dissent regarding President Gianni Infantino's commercial vision. By purging leadership that questions the privatization of World Cup assets, FIFA may be attempting to consolidate power and ensure a streamlined path toward the 2027 presidential election without public internal opposition.
