‘If I lose my job, so be it’ – Fifa COO accuses Gianni Infantino of ‘deceiving’ governing body in blistering statement

FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has blasted president Gianni Infantino’s shameless plot to flog stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Infantino, 56, wants to sell off shares related to the organisation’s commercial and event operations, with the estimation being it could raise £7.52billion. Fifa president Gianni Infantino is plotting to flog stakes in the World Cup to private investors Credit: Getty Images – Getty Fifa chief operating officer Kevin Lamour was the latest to lambast Infantino’s plans Credit: AP:Associated Press The Swiss official’s controversial idea was met with fury by Uefa, who unanimously agreed to boycott all Fifa-related competitions until he rescinds his unpopular plan. Concacaf swiftly followed by rejecting the outlandish World Cup plans before AFC also slammed the initiative and Infantino’s senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! According to The Times, the Fifa president is now fighting for his future and some believe his days are numbered. And Lamour became the latest to slam Infantino’s idea insisting Fifa were never on board with it. The COO is adamant this whole initiative was down to Infantino alone and he is personally so against it he is willing to step down. Lamour said: “To put it very clearly and directly: the project that has sparked so much controversy and debate is not a Fifa project. It is even less a project of Fifa’s administration. It is the project of one person. “The Fifa vice-presidents, the members of the Fifa Council, the confederations, the federations, the players, the leagues, the clubs, and the fans were not the only ones who were ignored. “Fifa’s own administration was also deceived. This lie by omission over many months and this unilateral exercise of power are not trivial. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Infantino’s senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest Credit: AP “They are indicative of a lack of trust, a lack of transparency, a lack of discernment, a lack of good governance. And a serious lack of respect. “Not only must this project not go ahead — for obvious reasons that need not even be listed here — but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions. “Regarding this project and what comes next. Everyone must take responsibility. Because it is becoming increasingly difficult for Fifa’s administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission. “My feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us. That saddens me. “My colleagues — some of whom have dedicated their lives to football — deserve better than contempt and intimidation. “The ball is now in the court of those who have the power to change things. I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. “But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to the upbringing I have received, and a duty to support my colleagues. “And if that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.” UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also criticised Infantino and called for his resignation. Fifa, though, issued a statement of their own insisting the plans in question wouldn’t harm football’s reputation. It read: “Nobody is selling football. This is not something Fifa would ever entertain. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. “We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA [member association] has the ability to express its vote based on facts.” Comment now