The key facts

  • Emilio García Silvero is stepping down as FIFA's Chief Legal and Compliance Officer after more than eight years
  • He led reforms regulating agents, transfers and cross-border payments
  • The departure follows the resignation of Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, who criticized President Gianni Infantino's proposal

Departure after eight years at FIFA

FIFA announced on Friday that the organization's Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Emilio García Silvero, is leaving his post after more than eight years of service. According to Anadolu, he explained the decision himself by citing personal plans: he intends to return with his family to Spain and begin a new professional chapter in Madrid after 15 years of working abroad.

What he did at the organization

García Silvero joined FIFA after the 2018 World Cup and headed the Legal and Compliance Department, which oversaw teams in Zurich and Miami. During his tenure, the organization carried out reforms in the international governance of football, including changes to the rules concerning agents, transfers and cross-border payments. FIFA also highlighted his contribution to educational initiatives and to increasing transparency and legal certainty in matters of football regulations.

Second high-profile departure in three months

García Silvero's resignation is the second in less than three months: earlier, the organization was left by Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, who criticized the rejected proposal by President Gianni Infantino to create a company with private investors to manage the commercial rights of FIFA tournaments. The organization's statement does not link García Silvero's departure to that episode — he himself cited his return to Spain.

Context: upcoming events at FIFA

The departure removes another senior Spanish specialist from FIFA's posts — at a time when Spain is preparing to host the 2030 World Cup together with Portugal and Morocco; the stadium for the final has not yet been chosen. Several key dates lie ahead for the organization: on November 23, a virtual extraordinary congress will be held to determine the hosts of the Women's World Cups in 2031 and 2035, and the FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027 in Rabat, where Infantino intends to run for a new term.