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FIFA dismissed its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, on Monday.
The 46-year-old's departure from the global soccer governing body comes only weeks after he released a bold public statement to the Associated Press, declaring that he had been "deceived" and subjected to "contempt and intimidation" over FIFA president and close ally Gianni Infantino's efforts to sell private stakes in future World Cups through the since-abandoned initiative, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
FIFA confirmed Lamour's exit, having held the position since November 2024: "FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA's Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026.
"FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future. No further comment will be made on the matter."
Lamour's dismissal represents merely the latest in a growing string of controversies to plague FIFA in the aftermath of the 2026 World Cup and Infantino's startling proposal. Multiple confederations, including UEFA and Concacaf, have distanced themselves from FIFA and Infantino, leaving the president's bid for re-election next March in considerable doubt.
Kevin Lamour Issues Scathing Statement
Infantino's scheme to offload a substantial minority stake in FIFA-organized competitions, including World Cups and Club World Cups, was leaked to the press on July 28. Lamour pulled no punches in his statement to the AP three days later, denouncing Infantino's conduct and acknowledging that his blunt remarks could ultimately cost him his position.
"It is the project of one person," Lamour wrote. "Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.
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"And if that means I lose my job then so be it" the French official added. "I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight."
Lamour's remarks came just hours after FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro stepped down and called on other top FIFA officials to speak out against Infantino's plan. The president abandoned the proposal later that evening amid fierce global backlash and boycott threats from UEFA's 55 member associations, citing the excessive division it had caused.
Although FIFA Forward Enterprise appears shelved for now, Infantino is far from in the clear. Just hours ago, a leaked letter revealed that the president had been warned his tenure could be cut short, with accusations that he is "ineligible" to contest the next election.