'Public funds paid to mistress': FIFA president embroiled in another controversy; top official who criticized him 'shocked into dismissal'... ousted in less than three weeks

*This content was translated by AI.

's controversy continues. A senior executive who strongly criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino's unilateral push to sell commercial stakes has ultimately been notified of dismissal.

The British media outlet 'BBC' reported on the 18th (Korean time) that "Kevin Lamour, FIFA Chief Operating Officer (COO), who had harshly criticized the failed plan to sell shares in a tournament sponsorship fund promoted by In Pan-ti-no (Chairman), was dismissed less than three weeks after making his critical remarks."

Previously, an FIFA spokesperson issued a statement saying, "The working relationship between FIFA and COO Lamour will end as of August 17, 2026. We thank him for his dedication over the past two years and wish him well in the future," offering only a brief response.

Even Matthias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General, conveyed through an email to staff and a letter to FIFA Council members that "after recent discussions, it was agreed that Lamour and we would go our separate ways."

Lamour COO, who joined FIFA in November 2024 after serving as Deputy Secretary-General of UEFA, had previously directly criticized the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project at the center of last month's scandal, calling it "a one-person project."

He stated, "It is time for football leaders to now ask the right questions and make the right decisions. Even FIFA's internal administrative organization was deceived regarding this project," and further revealed, "The mission of hundreds of dedicated FIFA employees is to serve football. The president should unite people, foster solidarity, and inspire them, but we are currently experiencing the exact opposite situation."

He also added, "While there is an obligation of loyalty to the organization, upholding values and supporting colleagues is equally important. For this reason, I will calmly accept even if it means losing my job."

The project that sparked this crisis involved plans to sell 21% of the shares in a newly established corporation responsible for all commercial and ticketing rights for FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, to a private equity fund. The investment group was reportedly led by U.S. venture capital firm Slice Capital, which is linked to the family of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, drawing fierce backlash.

This scandal even triggered divisions within global football. When the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) united to declare, "This deception has shattered trust. We are prepared to boycott the World Cup," the project was ultimately scrapped. In this process, former senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned, followed by COO Lamour being purged for internal criticism, pushing internal conflicts to their peak.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump took a public stand in support of In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) via his personal social networking service (SNS), stating, "Replacing In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) would be a terrible mistake."

However, global pressure for In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) to resign has not subsided. His position has further weakened as allegations of an inappropriate relationship with female staff and misuse of public funds during his tenure as UEFA Secretary-General have surfaced.

This was a scandal of unprecedented scale regarding infidelity. According to British media outlets such as 'The Daily Mail', the woman, who had started as a low-level employee, was rapidly promoted to executive rank. After leaving her job, she even received funding from UEFA public funds intended for youth football development to cover tuition fees for an MBA program at a business school, with annual costs reaching approximately 45,000 pounds (about 86 million won). When former UEFA President Michel Platini raised the issue, it was revealed that In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) allegedly paid her a large settlement sum to silence her and force her resignation.

With UEFA and CONCACAF officially withdrawing their support ahead of next year's presidential election (where Infantino is seeking a fourth term), the Scottish Football Association has also formally joined the ranks of those withdrawing support for Infantino, following England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. The football governance civil organization 'FairSquare' has also sent a letter to FIFA demanding that Infantino be barred from running in the next presidential election. Opposition forces are planning to convene an emergency meeting with the aim of suspending In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) from his duties or presenting a rival candidate to achieve a change in leadership.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.