Overview
- FIFA confirmed the working relationship with COO Kevin Lamour ended on 17 August, with the organisation saying it thanked him for two years of service and offering no further comment.
- Lamour had publicly accused President Gianni Infantino of deceiving staff over a secret plan to privatise World Cup commercial rights through the FIFA Forward Enterprise, calling the project “the project of one person.”
- Infantino withdrew the $20 billion FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal after strong opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, which accused him of a fundamental breach of trust.
- Several national associations, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and New Zealand, have formally withdrawn support for Infantino’s re-election while a bloc of Arab federations and other confederations continue to back him.
- The controversy has moved into legal and governance channels with member associations issuing preservation letters, calls for independent reviews, eligibility challenges to Infantino’s candidacy and a looming candidate deadline ahead of the March 2027 vote.