FIFA Fires COO Kevin Lamour After Infantino Criticism

FIFA has officially ended its working relationship with Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour on 17 August 2026, less than three weeks after he publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino. Lamour's criticism was directed at the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative, which aimed to sell a 21 percent stake to private investment firms.

He described the FFE proposal as “the project of one person” and claimed that FIFA’s administration had been “deceived” about it. Lamour also criticized Infantino's leadership, stating that a president should unite and inspire people, contrasting it with the current situation.

The FFE initiative was abandoned following opposition from several football bodies, including UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, with UEFA threatening to boycott the World Cup if the plan proceeded. This controversy has impacted Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, with UEFA and Concacaf withdrawing their support, alongside the Scottish Football Association and others from the UK and Ireland, while confederations from Africa, South America, and Oceania continue to support him.