FIFA dismisses Director of Operations Kevin Lamour

FIFA announced the termination of Kevin Lamour’s contract as Director of Operations following a series of internal disagreements. Lamour, who had been responsible for overseeing the organization’s day‑to‑day activities, was dismissed after publicly challenging President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to establish a separate commercial company to manage FIFA’s marketing and broadcasting rights.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Lamour’s criticism centered on concerns that the new commercial entity could undermine existing governance structures and create conflicts of interest. His remarks were made in a series of internal memos and media interviews, where he described the plan as “misaligned with FIFA’s core mission” and warned of potential financial opacity. The board’s decision to remove him was presented as a move to maintain organizational cohesion amid the ongoing restructuring effort.

The dismissal underscores the tension within FIFA as it seeks to modernize its commercial operations while preserving transparency and stakeholder confidence. The organization has indicated that the restructuring will proceed under Infantino’s leadership, with a new appointment to fill the Director of Operations role expected in the coming weeks.