FIFA loses senior executive after Infantino commercial revolt
FIFA has confirmed the departure of Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, deepening the fallout from President Gianni Infantino’s abandoned attempt to bring private investors into the governing body’s tournament business. Lamour left on 17 August, little more than two weeks after publicly accusing FIFA’s leadership of keeping staff in the dark over the proposal.
The governing body said its working relationship with Lamour had ended and thanked him for his service, without giving a reason for the separation. FIFA declined further comment. Lamour had been among its most senior executives and oversaw several divisions from the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich.
His departure follows an extraordinary internal dispute over Infantino’s plan to establish a commercial subsidiary encompassing some of FIFA’s most valuable tournament assets, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cup competitions. The proposed company carried an implied valuation of $20 billion and was intended to raise as much as $4.2 billion in outside capital.
The structure would have opened up to 20 per cent of the venture to private investors. FIFA argued that the proceeds could significantly expand funding available to its 211 member associations and that any net benefits from the initiative would be reinvested in football. The proposal nevertheless triggered resistance over control of the World Cup’s commercial assets and the extent to which key stakeholders had been consulted.
Lamour broke publicly with Infantino at the end of July, saying employees had been deceived over how the project had developed. He described it as the initiative of one person and argued that FIFA existed to serve football rather than the interests of an individual. He also made clear that he understood his intervention could cost him his position.
His challenge carried added significance because of his long association with Infantino. Lamour previously worked at UEFA, joining the European governing body in 2007 and eventually becoming deputy general secretary. He also belonged to the circle that supported Infantino during his successful campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016. FIFA appointed him Chief Operating Officer on 1 November 2024.
The confrontation widened when Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and former president of the US Soccer Federation, resigned while opposing the commercial venture. Cordeiro described the proposed arrangement as damaging to football, adding another prominent internal voice to objections already emerging across the sport.
Opposition also developed among major confederations and club organisations concerned about governance, consultation and control of FIFA competitions. European clubs threatened action over the proposal, while football authorities across Europe, Asia and North and Central America challenged the initiative. Faced with escalating resistance, Infantino abandoned the plan at the beginning of August.
The collapse transformed what began as a debate about financing into a wider test of Infantino’s leadership. Critics have questioned the concentration of decision-making around the president, while his supporters have pointed to FIFA’s increased revenues, expanded tournaments and greater development distributions during his decade in office.
The dispute has particular importance ahead of FIFA’s next presidential election. Infantino announced in April that he intends to seek another term in 2027. The election is scheduled for 18 March at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, with the successful candidate due to serve the 2027-2031 term.
Lamour’s exit removes one of the highest-ranking officials to challenge Infantino openly, but it does not erase the governance questions generated by the failed commercial project. FIFA’s tournament portfolio has become increasingly valuable as the organisation expands both the number and scale of its competitions, making decisions over ownership, commercial rights and outside capital especially sensitive.
The governing body said its working relationship with Lamour had ended and thanked him for his service, without giving a reason for the separation. FIFA declined further comment. Lamour had been among its most senior executives and oversaw several divisions from the organisation’s headquarters in Zurich.
His departure follows an extraordinary internal dispute over Infantino’s plan to establish a commercial subsidiary encompassing some of FIFA’s most valuable tournament assets, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cup competitions. The proposed company carried an implied valuation of $20 billion and was intended to raise as much as $4.2 billion in outside capital.
The structure would have opened up to 20 per cent of the venture to private investors. FIFA argued that the proceeds could significantly expand funding available to its 211 member associations and that any net benefits from the initiative would be reinvested in football. The proposal nevertheless triggered resistance over control of the World Cup’s commercial assets and the extent to which key stakeholders had been consulted.
Lamour broke publicly with Infantino at the end of July, saying employees had been deceived over how the project had developed. He described it as the initiative of one person and argued that FIFA existed to serve football rather than the interests of an individual. He also made clear that he understood his intervention could cost him his position.
His challenge carried added significance because of his long association with Infantino. Lamour previously worked at UEFA, joining the European governing body in 2007 and eventually becoming deputy general secretary. He also belonged to the circle that supported Infantino during his successful campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016. FIFA appointed him Chief Operating Officer on 1 November 2024.
The confrontation widened when Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino and former president of the US Soccer Federation, resigned while opposing the commercial venture. Cordeiro described the proposed arrangement as damaging to football, adding another prominent internal voice to objections already emerging across the sport.
Opposition also developed among major confederations and club organisations concerned about governance, consultation and control of FIFA competitions. European clubs threatened action over the proposal, while football authorities across Europe, Asia and North and Central America challenged the initiative. Faced with escalating resistance, Infantino abandoned the plan at the beginning of August.
The collapse transformed what began as a debate about financing into a wider test of Infantino’s leadership. Critics have questioned the concentration of decision-making around the president, while his supporters have pointed to FIFA’s increased revenues, expanded tournaments and greater development distributions during his decade in office.
The dispute has particular importance ahead of FIFA’s next presidential election. Infantino announced in April that he intends to seek another term in 2027. The election is scheduled for 18 March at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, with the successful candidate due to serve the 2027-2031 term.
Lamour’s exit removes one of the highest-ranking officials to challenge Infantino openly, but it does not erase the governance questions generated by the failed commercial project. FIFA’s tournament portfolio has become increasingly valuable as the organisation expands both the number and scale of its competitions, making decisions over ownership, commercial rights and outside capital especially sensitive.