- Fifa's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, has publicly criticised president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of deceiving staff regarding plans to sell off the World Cup to private investors through the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).
- Lamour's statement follows the resignation of Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, and strong opposition to the FFE proposal from UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation, with UEFA threatening to boycott Fifa competitions if the plans proceed.
- Lamour stated that the controversial project is not a Fifa initiative but rather “the project of one person”, highlighting that Fifa's administration, vice-presidents, council members, and confederations were all kept in the dark.
- He condemned Infantino's actions as a “lie by omission” and a “unilateral exercise of power”, indicative of a lack of trust, transparency, good governance, and respect, asserting that the project must not go ahead.
- Despite not having resigned, Lamour expressed his readiness to lose his job for speaking out, stating he has a duty of loyalty to his colleagues and certain values, believing Fifa staff “deserve better than contempt and intimidation”.
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