FIFA's split with chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has been followed by broader criticism of President Gianni Infantino's abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, including from Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, who said the plan effectively "pressed the self-destruct button" on FIFA's credibility. The proposal would have put commercial and ticketing rights for major competitions, including the World Cup, into a new entity and sold a 21% stake to private investors. Masters said FIFA, as a not-for-profit organization, should protect the World Cup rather than explore privatization. Lamour's departure on Aug. 17, 2026 came weeks after he publicly criticized the plan and accused Infantino of misleading staff. The project had already been withdrawn after strong opposition from football bodies including UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, with threats to boycott FIFA events. The backlash has widened into a political challenge for Infantino ahead of the March 2027 presidential election, with the English Football Association withdrawing support for his re-election bid and Masters calling for a "unity candidate" focused on reform.