FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, has officially departed from the organization as confirmed by FIFA on Monday. This move comes after Lamour publicly voiced his opposition to President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a portion of FIFA’s tournament business, including the prestigious World Cup.
A FIFA spokesperson announced the end of Lamour’s tenure, thanking him for his two years of service and wishing him well in his future endeavors. The spokesperson stated that no further comments would be provided on the matter. Lamour’s departure was communicated to FIFA staff and Council members by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom through a letter following mutual discussions that led to the agreement to part ways, as reported by Sky News.
Lamour had expressed his discontent with the proposal in the past month, alleging that FIFA staff had been misled and referring to the initiative as the personal project of an individual. In a statement, Lamour emphasized that their objective should be to serve football and not the personal interests of a person who perceives themselves as the embodiment of FIFA, rather than being in its service.
This announcement came shortly after another key figure, Carlos Cordeiro, who served as a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest against the plan, labeling it as detrimental to football. Lamour had joined FIFA in November 2024 and was previously associated with Infantino’s inner circle during the campaign that led to Infantino’s election as president in 2016.