By Daily Touch Insights Editorial Team
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SPORTS & FOOTBALL — FIFA has parted ways with its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, weeks after he publicly criticised President Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell a stake in the organisation’s future World Cup commercial revenues to private investors.
FIFA confirmed that its working relationship with Lamour ended on 17 August 2026, but did not provide details about the circumstances surrounding his departure. The decision comes after Lamour accused FIFA leadership of deceiving staff over the proposed investment plan.
The departure adds another layer to a growing leadership crisis at world football’s governing body, as Infantino faces increasing opposition from several major football confederations ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election.
Kevin Lamour Leaves FIFA
Lamour had served as FIFA’s chief operating officer since November 2024 and was regarded as one of the organisation’s senior executives.
FIFA said that the working relationship between the organisation and Lamour had ended on 17 August, thanking him for his service and wishing him well.
The governing body did not publicly state that his departure was directly caused by his criticism of Infantino.
However, the timing has drawn significant attention because Lamour had openly opposed Infantino’s controversial commercial proposal.
Lamour Had Criticised the World Cup Investment Plan
The dispute centres on a proposal known as FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The plan involved creating a new commercial structure connected to FIFA’s tournament business and selling a stake to private investors.
Reports said the proposal could have involved a valuation of around $20 billion, with investors potentially acquiring a significant minority stake in the new entity.
The proposal generated strong opposition inside and outside FIFA, particularly because senior football officials said they had not been adequately consulted about the plan.
Lamour Accused FIFA Leadership of Deception
Lamour publicly criticised the way the proposal had been developed and communicated to FIFA employees.
He said staff had been deceived by a lack of openness surrounding the project and argued that employees deserved better treatment from the organisation's leadership.
His comments were unusually direct for such a senior FIFA official and demonstrated the depth of internal disagreement surrounding the proposal.
Lamour had also indicated that he understood his opposition could put his own position at risk. 3
Infantino Eventually Abandoned the Plan
Infantino ultimately withdrew the proposed commercial initiative after facing significant opposition.
The plan had attracted criticism from football officials, national associations and other stakeholders who questioned the transparency of the process and the potential consequences of allowing private investors to obtain a stake in World Cup-related commercial revenues.
Although the proposal was abandoned, the political damage inside FIFA has continued.
Why the World Cup Plan Created So Much Opposition
The World Cup is FIFA’s most valuable commercial property.
Revenue generated from broadcasting rights, sponsorship, licensing and other World Cup-related activities supports FIFA and its member associations around the world.
Giving private investors a stake in future tournament revenues therefore represented a major change in how FIFA could potentially finance and commercialise its most important asset.
Critics argued that such a decision required extensive consultation and transparency.
FIFA Is Facing a Wider Leadership Crisis
Lamour’s departure comes at a time when Infantino is facing growing political opposition within international football.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf have all been involved in criticism of FIFA’s recent leadership and governance approach.
Some football authorities have questioned Infantino’s decision-making and called for greater transparency within the organisation. 4
The dispute has therefore moved beyond a single commercial proposal and become part of a broader argument over how FIFA should be governed.
Another Senior Figure Has Also Left
Lamour is not the only senior FIFA figure to depart amid the controversy.
Infantino adviser Carlos Cordeiro also left after opposing the proposed commercial strategy.
The departure of multiple senior figures has increased speculation about the level of internal disagreement surrounding Infantino's leadership.
It also raises questions about whether the failed investment plan has created lasting divisions within FIFA's senior administration. 5
Infantino Is Under Pressure Ahead of the 2027 Election
Infantino remains FIFA president and has been seeking support ahead of the next presidential election.
But the controversy surrounding the investment plan has weakened his political position among some major football organisations.
UEFA has been particularly outspoken, while other confederations and national associations have taken different positions.
With FIFA's 211 member associations ultimately determining the presidency, maintaining broad international support will be crucial for Infantino.
The Commercialisation of Football Is at the Centre of the Debate
The dispute also raises a larger question about the increasing commercialisation of football.
Football has become one of the world's most valuable entertainment industries, with enormous revenues generated from television rights, sponsorships, merchandising and global events.
That financial growth has created powerful incentives to find new ways of monetising competitions.
But the more football becomes financially valuable, the greater the pressure becomes to ensure that commercial decisions are transparent and accountable.
Private Investment Could Have Changed FIFA's Financial Structure
Private investment can provide organisations with substantial amounts of capital and potentially create new commercial opportunities.
However, investors generally expect financial returns.
That creates an important question for FIFA: how much control over future commercial revenues should be given to private capital in exchange for immediate investment?
The debate is particularly sensitive because FIFA's revenues ultimately support football development programmes across its global membership.
The Failed Plan Has Not Ended the Debate
Although FIFA withdrew the proposal, the underlying questions remain.
FIFA still has enormous commercial assets and will continue looking for ways to expand its revenues.
The controversy may therefore influence how future commercial initiatives are designed and how much consultation takes place before major decisions are presented to FIFA's governing bodies.
Why Lamour's Departure Matters
Lamour's departure is significant because he was not an outside critic.
He was a senior FIFA executive who had previously worked closely with Infantino during their time at UEFA.
His decision to publicly oppose the proposal therefore suggested that dissatisfaction existed inside FIFA's own senior administration.
That makes the departure more politically significant than criticism coming solely from external organisations.
FIFA Must Now Address Questions of Trust
The biggest challenge facing FIFA may not be the abandoned investment plan itself.
It is the question of trust.
If senior officials believe major commercial decisions are being developed without adequate consultation, FIFA risks creating deeper divisions between its leadership and the people responsible for running the organisation.
Restoring confidence could require greater transparency around future commercial decisions and stronger internal governance mechanisms.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on whether FIFA appoints a permanent replacement for Lamour and whether further senior departures follow.
Attention will also remain on the future of Infantino's presidency as opposition groups attempt to build support for changes within FIFA.
The 2027 presidential election could become the biggest test yet of Infantino's ability to maintain control over world football's governing structure.
Our Perspective
Lamour's departure should not automatically be treated as proof that he was dismissed solely because he criticised Infantino. FIFA has confirmed that the working relationship ended but has not publicly explained the precise circumstances.
That distinction matters.
However, the timing is undeniably significant. A senior executive criticised a controversial commercial proposal, the proposal was subsequently abandoned, and the executive then left the organisation.
The bigger issue is therefore not simply why one executive left. It is whether FIFA can convince its members that major decisions involving football's enormous commercial value are being made transparently, collectively and in the interests of the wider game.
Conclusion
FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has left the organisation after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell a stake in a new commercial entity linked to World Cup revenues.
FIFA confirmed that its working relationship with Lamour ended on 17 August but did not disclose further details. The departure follows the collapse of the investment proposal and comes amid growing opposition to Infantino's leadership.
The controversy has exposed significant disagreements over FIFA's commercial strategy, governance and the role of private investment in football.
With the 2027 FIFA presidential election approaching, Lamour's departure could become another important symbol of the growing battle over the future direction and leadership of world football.
