FIFA sacking of Kevin Lamour 'deeply troubling', says UEFA's McAllister
UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister has criticised FIFA's decision to dismiss chief operating officer Kevin Lamour following his criticism of president Gianni Infantino.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
FIFA's decision to dismiss senior executive Kevin Lamour has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA, with vice-president Laura McAllister describing the move as a "deeply troubling message" for those seeking reform within the organisation.
Lamour, who served as FIFA's chief operating officer, was dismissed shortly after publicly challenging president Gianni Infantino. He had previously stated that FIFA's administration had been "deceived" by Infantino regarding plans to sell stakes in football competitions to private investors, labelling the proposal as "the project of one person".
Kevin Lamour is not only a deeply principled leader who cares passionately for football, but a brave advocate for the values that should underpin all we do as custodians of our game. Laura McAllister
Following Lamour's intervention and broader pressure from stakeholders, FIFA aborted the commercial proposal on August 1. However, McAllister argued that the loss of an executive with Lamour's background in good governance undermines the opportunity to reset FIFA's culture towards sporting values rather than purely commercial interests.
The incident has further strained relationships between FIFA and several major football associations. The football bodies of England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland have confirmed they will not support Infantino's re-election as president in early 2027.