FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, has escalated the internal power struggle at the world soccer governing body by publicly challenging President Gianni Infantino’s strategy to sell a minority stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Lamour argued that the proposed transaction constitutes a "bad deal" and suggested the project should be halted, effectively inviting Infantino to dismiss him for his stance.
Lamour’s intervention marks a significant deepening of the rift within FIFA’s leadership.
By framing the dispute as a matter of staff deception, the Zurich-based executive has moved the conflict from internal boardroom disagreements to a public accountability issue.
His comments serve as a direct defense of colleagues who have expressed concerns about the valuation and structure of the rights sale, signaling that opposition to Infantino’s commercial strategy is not isolated but widespread among senior management.
This internal revolt coincides with mounting external pressure on FIFA.