Fifa’s Chief Operating Officer Criticizes Infantino’s Plan to Sell Stakes in Competitions
The governing body of international football has been embroiled in controversy as its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, questioned the proposal by President Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. In a statement released to the Associated Press, Lamour described the plans as “the project of one person” and said that it was time for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.
Lamour’s comments came on the same day that three confederations spoke out against the proposal, with a senior adviser to Infantino resigning and Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying the Swiss leader was “the wrong man” to lead Fifa. US President Donald Trump had also expressed his disapproval of the plans in a statement.
The lengthy statement did not mention Infantino by name, but it is clear that Lamour’s comments are directed at him personally. He acknowledged that he had a duty of loyalty to his employer and to “certain values” while adding that if he were to lose his job due to the proposal, he would understand and respect that decision.
Lamour also expressed concerns about the potential impact on football as a whole, stating that Fifa’s mission was to serve football and unite its employees. He questioned whether Infantino’s plan could achieve this goal, given that it did not involve any significant changes to the existing structure of the organization.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had earlier stated that it stood in solidarity with counterparts in Europe and North, Central America and the Caribbean by opposing the proposal. The AFC added that Fifa World Cup was “the pinnacle of global football” and that any proposal that risked undermining its unity would be considered a bad deal for football.
The plan to create a commercial subsidiary, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), has been met with skepticism from many in the industry. It is expected to expand into new markets and attract top talent through incentive-driven compensation, but it does not appear to address any of the concerns about the potential impact on the sport as a whole.
The proposal also raises questions about the financial sustainability of Fifa’s operations. The World Cup is currently estimated to generate an annual revenue of 24 million euros per member association in the 2035-2039 cycle, but it has been criticized for being under-monetized compared to other major sporting events like the Olympics.
Infantino had indicated that the proposals would need a straight majority vote among Fifa members if put forward. However, with only 136 nations opposed out of a total of 211 member associations, it is unlikely that the proposal will be approved by all stakeholders.
The controversy surrounding Infantino’s plan has raised questions about his leadership and vision for Fifa. As chief operating officer, Lamour serves as two layers below Infantino in terms of management structure. In his statement, he expressed concerns about working under difficult conditions and fulfilling the organization’s mission.
Lamour joined Fifa in November 2024, having previously served as deputy general secretary at Uefa. Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino for four years and 11 months, had resigned citing concerns over the proposal. Burnham later described Infantino’s plan as an “outrageous suggestion” and said that he was not convinced by the idea of private investors buying stakes in Fifa competitions.
The controversy surrounding Infantino’s plans has sparked a wider debate about the future of football governance and the role of private investment in the sport. As Lamour noted, if all member associations were to back the stance of their governing body, it would mean that 136 nations are opposed to the proposal, which raises questions about whether the plan can be implemented.
The situation remains fluid as more information becomes available, but one thing is clear: Infantino’s plans have sparked a significant amount of controversy and debate within the football community.
Based on reporting from BBC Top Stories.
