Support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino continues to wane following the recent departure of Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, which has been described by a FIFA vice-president as the "final straw." This shift in sentiment among national football federations and FIFA officials comes in the wake of Lamour's unexpected dismissal.

Departure of Kevin Lamour

On Monday, FIFA announced that Lamour had left the organization, just weeks after he publicly criticized Infantino's proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. Lamour's exit has led to increased scrutiny of Infantino's leadership, with Hungary's Sandor Csanyi, a FIFA vice-president and member of the FIFA Council, expressing his discontent in a letter to Infantino. Csanyi stated, "The final straw was the unexpected dismissal of Kevin Lamour," highlighting Lamour's high professional and ethical standards during his tenure.

Concerns Over Leadership

Csanyi's letter emphasized that Lamour made significant contributions to the transparent operation of FIFA. He pointed out that Lamour's dismissal was a direct result of his criticism of Infantino's initiative, which Infantino himself later acknowledged as misguided. This situation raises serious concerns regarding professional judgment and leadership within FIFA. Lamour had previously remarked that staff felt "deceived" by the plan, which he characterized as the project of a single individual.

Growing Opposition

Infantino's troubles are compounded by dissent from other FIFA vice-presidents, including UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, and CONCACAF president Vittorio Montagliani. Additionally, Montenegro’s Dejan Savicevic, a FIFA Council member, has also retracted his support for Infantino's candidacy, citing "extremely worrying" recent developments within FIFA in a letter to Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom.

As Infantino prepares for reelection in March, seeking a fourth term until 2031, the mounting criticism and loss of support present significant challenges for his leadership moving forward.