Fifa official sacked after Infantino plan criticism

“FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, was dismissed on 17 August 2026 after publicly denouncing President Gianni Infantino’s abandoned plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors. Lamour, a former UEFA deputy secretary‑general, warned that the FIFA Forward Enterprise project was “the project of one person” and that the organization had been misled. In his farewell note he urged staff to “do what’s right” even at personal cost. The move follows a recent meeting in Morocco where senior executives backed Infantino, though Lamour was excluded. For the U.S. market, the shake‑up could affect ongoing negotiations for broadcast rights and sponsorships tied to FIFA’s commercial strategy, potentially altering revenue streams for American broadcasters and brands linked to global football. Expert Analysis: Lamour’s ouster signals internal resistance to the commercialization push that could slow the rollout of new revenue‑sharing models in North America. If FIFA re‑evaluates its investor‑sale strategy, U.S. broadcasters and sponsors may retain greater negotiating leverage, preserving existing market dynamics for the next few years.”