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FIFA fires COO Kevin Lamour after Infantino criticism

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

FIFA dismissed COO Kevin Lamour on July 31 after he criticized president Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan.
Klaveness called the firing unacceptable, said secretary general Mattias Grafström pressured it, and called it fear-based management.
The plan proposed a $4.2 billion investment for a 20% FIFA spin-off, giving $20 million to 211 federations.
Infantino met managers in Rabat without Lamour, leading FIFA to apologize, managers to reaffirm support, and setting challenger deadline for Nov 18.

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Story summary

FIFA dismissed COO Kevin Lamour on July 31 after he criticized president Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan.
Klaveness called the firing unacceptable, said secretary general Mattias Grafström pressured it, and called it fear-based management.
The plan proposed a $4.2 billion investment for a 20% FIFA spin-off, giving $20 million to 211 federations.
Infantino met managers in Rabat without Lamour, leading FIFA to apologize, managers to reaffirm support, and setting challenger deadline for Nov 18.