PARIS — Embattled Fifa president Gianni Infantino will hope the departure of Kevin Lamour does not spark damaging revelations from the former chief operating officer of world football’s governing body.
Frenchman Lamour’s position – which he had been in for less than two years – had become untenable after he broke ranks with senior Fifa directors last month and issued a scathing statement criticising Infantino over his botched plan to bring private investment into Fifa competitions, including World Cups.
Lamour had refused to sign off on the deal when – according to The New York Times – five Fifa directors had been briefed on the plan on the eve of last month’s World Cup final. Lamour described the proposal as “the project of one person”.
It was noticeable after his statement he had not been present when other senior Fifa directors attended an emergency meeting in Morocco a fortnight ago and declared their “full support” for Infantino.
Lamour’s criticism dealt a significant blow to 56-year-old Infantino.
Another damaging resignation was that of Infantino’s special advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who like the Fifa chief is close to US President Donald Trump.
“It is a bad deal for Fifa’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game,” wrote Cordeiro, a former investment banker.
Two other Fifa executives had also welcomed the ditching of the plan – it had been launched on Tuesday, July 28, and was scrapped by Saturday.
“Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go,” Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said in an email he sent to staff.
“The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue.”
Arsene Wenger, chief of global football development, said it was “absolutely necessary” to scrap it.
Both Wenger and Grafstrom claimed ignorance over the private investment plan but nevertheless feature on a list of people instructed not to destroy “relevant materials” pertaining to it in a letter sent by the US lawyer of European football body Uefa, which has raised strong objections to Infantino remaining in his post.
