Fifa chief operating officer Kevin Lamour was sacked in August 2026 after publicly criticizing Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s controversial Financial Fairplay (FFE) plan, according to theguardian.com. Lamour, who had joined Fifa less than two years earlier from Uefa, said the administration had been ‘deceived’ and accused Infantino of believing he ’embodies Fifa when he is supposed to be at its service.’

Internal Discontent Over FFE Proposal

Lamour made it clear he was prepared to lose his job over the issue, stating: ‘If that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.’ His comments appear to have accelerated his departure. The Fifa secretary general, Mattias Grafström, informed staff in an email that Lamour would be leaving the organization. A Fifa spokesperson confirmed the end of Lamour’s employment on 17 August 2026, thanking him for his two years of service and offering no further comment.

Lamour also criticized the working environment at Fifa, saying his colleagues ‘deserve better than contempt and intimidation.’ He added: ‘My feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us.’

Broader Dissent Within Fifa Leadership

Lamour’s criticism coincided with growing internal dissent. On the same day, one of Infantino’s senior advisers, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest at the FFE plan. This suggests a significant portion of Fifa’s leadership was unhappy with Infantino’s strategy.

Lamour had previously served as Uefa’s deputy secretary general from 2007 before joining Fifa. His departure highlights the ongoing tensions within the organization over governance and strategic direction. The FFE proposal, which sought to limit club finances and redirect more money to national associations, was reportedly put on hold hours after Lamour’s public remarks.

Infantino’s Vision for Football Governance

Infantino has defended the FFE proposal as a means to level the playing field in world football. In a separate statement, he said a biennial World Cup would prevent ‘super clubs’ from monopolizing global attention and revenue. ‘For a match to be interrupted in this way is something that cannot happen. It’s not acceptable,’ Infantino said, according to the Buenos Aires Times. The Fifa disciplinary commission has launched an investigation into the incident, but no rescheduled match date has been announced.

Infantino’s plans, however, remain controversial. Critics argue the proposals would disrupt the traditional football calendar and benefit only a select few. The Buenos Aires Times also reported that the disciplinary investigation may have little impact on the teams’ prospects for qualifying for Qatar 2022, as both are leading their group comfortably.