FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under criticism after proposing to sell a stake in the governing body's tournament business, including the World Cup. Senior executive Kevin Lamour has left FIFA after publicly criticizing Infantino's plan, calling it "the project of one person" that deceives staff. Lamour's departure was confirmed on August 17 by a FIFA spokesperson, who thanked him for his two years of service but made no further comment. Lamour had previously been part of Infantino's inner circle and joined FIFA in 2024.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Kevin Lamour, FIFA's Chief Operating Officer, has left the organization after criticizing Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup and other tournaments. Lamour joined FIFA in November 2024, two years ago, having been part of Infantino's inner circle that campaigned for his election as president in 2016. He publicly criticized the proposal last month, saying that FIFA staff had been "deceived" and that it was "the project of one person", rather than a collective decision. In response to the criticism, FIFA has ended its working relationship with Lamour, effective August 17, 2026.
Written for “FIFA Executive Departure” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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The score and its own evidence disagree: every quote above points
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The confidence has been set to low for that reason.
Leaning score -0.45 for article 985 (low confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-25
FIFA confirms departure of senior executive Kevin Lamour after Infantino criticism
Lamour slammed FIFA president's proposal as 'the project of one person'
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Lamour → confirm → person
FIFA confirmed on Monday that Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour has left the governing body, weeks after he publicly criticized President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in its tournament business, including the World Cup.
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he → confirm → 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.
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spokesperson → confirm → August
"FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.
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FIFA → thank → future
No further comment will be made on the matter," the spokesperson added.
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spokesperson → make → matter
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom informed staff and Council members of Lamour's departure in a letter on Monday, saying the two sides had "agreed to part ways" following recent discussions, Sky News reported.
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News → inform → discussions
Lamour had publicly criticized 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.
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mission → criticize → 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.
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Lamour → serve → time
FIFA says it is scrapping plans to sell off World Cup after outcry
Senior FIFA official resigns over Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan, another says staff 'deceived'
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."
Lamour joined FIFA in November 2024, having previously been part of Infantino's inner circle that campaigned for his election as president in 2016.
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that → say → 2016
