Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour is officially out at FIFA, a move confirmed Monday, weeks after he publicly slammed Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell off a stake in World Cup commercial rights. This isn’t just a quiet departure either; Lamour’s exit comes as the backlash against Infantino’s plan blows up, and it’s making his reelection bid look shakier by the day.
Called Out as ‘Project of One Person’
Lamour, who joined FIFA’s senior leadership in November 2024, was once part of Infantino’s inner circle, helping him get elected president back in 2016. But things went south fast. FIFA confirmed their “working relationship” ended August 17, 2026. Lamour’s public criticism last month was brutal, saying FIFA staff had been “deceived” by the plan, calling it “the project of one person.” He didn’t pull any punches, either, stating, “Our mission… is to serve football, not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service.”
Lamour’s comments weren’t isolated. Another senior adviser to Infantino, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned earlier over the same proposal, calling it “a bad deal for football.” Infantino actually withdrew the plan that very same day. The proposal? Create a massive $20 billion subsidiary and sell up to a 20% stake to private equity investors, aiming to raise $4.2 billion. But the damage was already done.
Infantino’s Bid for Fourth Term Is Shaking Up
Infantino’s push for a fourth term as president in March next year, which once seemed like a formality, is now far from certain. We’re talking major opposition here: the powerful European confederation UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF are all ranged against the 56-year-old Swiss supremo. While he still has the support of African and South American confederations, that’s a serious split in power.
Adding fuel to the fire, human rights in sport organization FairSquare confirmed Monday they’ve written to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC) urging them to rule Infantino ineligible for another term. Why? FIFA presidents are limited to three terms. But Infantino successfully argued in 2022 that his first stint, from 2016 to 2019, shouldn’t count because he completed an interrupted mandate after Sepp Blatter resigned. He was then reelected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. FairSquare director Nicholas McGeehan called it a “clear breach of the rules” that sets “a very dangerous precedent.”
With FairSquare putting the heat on, and major confederations openly calling for an independent review, this whole thing is far from over. Infantino’s path to reelection next March just got incredibly rocky, and we’re all watching to see if FIFA actually holds itself accountable.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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