FIFA COO Kevin Lamour Exits After Criticizing Infantino Rights Plan

Kevin Lamour’s departure, weeks after he opposed a proposal to sell stakes in FIFA tournament commercial rights, has triggered new criticism of the body’s governance.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has left world football’s governing body weeks after publicly opposing President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to bring private investors into the commercial rights of major FIFA tournaments, deepening scrutiny of the organization’s internal governance.

FIFA confirmed that its working relationship with Lamour ended on August 17. The organization thanked him for his service and said it would make no further comment on the circumstances.

That wording is important. Several reports have described Lamour as having been dismissed, but FIFA’s public statement did not specify whether he was fired, resigned under pressure or left under another arrangement. A publication-ready account should preserve that distinction unless documentary evidence establishes more.

Lamour had publicly broken with Infantino in July over a proposal to sell a stake in commercial rights connected to the World Cup and other competitions. He said staff had been misled about the project and criticized the way it was being advanced. The proposal was later withdrawn amid resistance from football officials and other stakeholders.

Lamour held a broad governance and operations portfolio

FIFA appointed Lamour chief operating officer in November 2024 after nearly two decades at UEFA. Its own announcement said he would oversee functions including audit, finance, legal and compliance, communications, member associations, technology and operations, professional football relations, and social responsibility.

That portfolio made his public criticism unusually significant. The disagreement was not coming from an outside critic but from a senior official responsible for several of the systems that underpin FIFA’s administration and internal controls.

His exit also follows the departure of other figures who opposed or questioned the commercial-rights proposal, adding to debate over how much internal dissent FIFA tolerates under Infantino’s leadership.

Rights and labor groups raise governance concerns

Human-rights and labor organizations responded Tuesday with concern. Reuters reported that Human Rights Watch, the Sport & Rights Alliance and the Building and Wood Workers’ International union praised Lamour’s engagement on human rights and workers’ protections and said his departure sent a troubling message about internal accountability.

Those organizations do not determine FIFA’s employment decisions, and their criticism represents an external assessment rather than a proven explanation for why Lamour left. But their reaction matters because FIFA has adopted formal commitments on human rights and has faced sustained scrutiny over tournament-hosting decisions, labor conditions and governance.

The episode arrives ahead of the next FIFA presidential election cycle and during broader debate over the commercial value of the World Cup. Proposals to monetize future rights through outside capital raise questions about control, long-term revenue and the role of member associations in decisions involving FIFA’s most valuable assets.

FIFA has not said who will assume Lamour’s responsibilities or whether his role will be reorganized. Until the organization provides further detail, the confirmed fact is the end of his tenure; the precise employment mechanism and internal reasoning remain unresolved.

By Lucas Harrington | Sport | CRN Times
Published: 18 August 2026, 2:45 p.m.