FIFA executive who criticised Infantino's World Cup sale plan departs

FIFA parts ways with Kevin Lamour after Gianni Infantino criticism

FIFA president Gianni Infantino sparked outrage over his plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to external investors. (Reuters: Brian Snyder)

FIFA has confirmed senior executive Kevin Lamour has parted ways with soccer's governing body, weeks after his public criticism of president Gianni Infantino.

In a statement, a FIFA spokesperson said Lamour parted ways with the governing body on Monday.

Lamour, who was chief operating officer, said FIFA staff had been "deceived" over Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to external investors.

FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, has left soccer's governing body, weeks after he publicly criticised president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in its tournament business, including the World Cup.

"FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA's chief operating officer has ended on 17 August 2026," a FIFA spokesperson said.

"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 had publicly criticised the proposal last month, saying FIFA staff had been "deceived" over the plan and describing it as "the project of one person".

"Our mission … is to serve football. Not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service," Lamour said in a statement at the time.

Lamour's comments came hours after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest at the proposal, calling it "a bad deal for football".

The internal dissent came as FIFA faced widespread opposition to its plan to create a $US20 billion ($28.1 billion) subsidiary to run its tournaments, including the World Cup, and sell up to a 20 per cent stake to external investors. FIFA subsequently abandoned the proposal following the backlash.