FIFA’s dismissal of the senior official who accused Gianni Infantino of misleading staff regarding his World Cup financial scheme was strongly criticized by Norway soccer president Lise Klaveness on Tuesday. Klaveness urged other leaders within the organization to push back against potentially harmful directives.
The removal of FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, occurred 17 days after he voiced his concerns to the Associated Press about Infantino’s $20 billion private equity initiative, which was subsequently halted. Klaveness expressed her disapproval in a phone interview, characterizing Lamour as “the finest football administrator I have ever encountered” and denouncing his abrupt dismissal as a form of “management by fear.”
Emphasizing the importance of standing up against detrimental orders, Klaveness specifically called out FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström. As a former Norway national team player, Oslo judge, and elected executive committee member at UEFA, Klaveness has upheld her nation’s reputation for promoting good governance in soccer.
Lamour, who had a longstanding professional relationship with Infantino, faced backlash for criticizing the FIFA president’s leadership style. The controversy stemmed from a secretive plan to sell future World Cup profits to investors led by Joshua Kushner, sparking opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF.
In his statement on July 31, Lamour highlighted the lack of transparency in Infantino’s actions, stating that FIFA staff had been deceived and deserved better treatment. He urged soccer leaders worldwide to make informed decisions and expressed readiness to accept the consequences of speaking out.
Klaveness clarified that Lamour’s departure was a termination, not a resignation, implying that Grafström was pressured by the president to take action. FIFA, in a statement, thanked Lamour for his service and wished him well. Klaveness commended Lamour for his role in halting the controversial project, emphasizing the importance of transparency within the organization.
Following the upheaval caused by the World Cup financial proposal, Infantino convened a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, excluding Lamour. After the meeting, FIFA issued an apology for errors and reiterated its support for Infantino’s leadership. Klaveness criticized the management style within FIFA, labeling it as fear-driven and contrary to the best interests of football.
Despite initially appearing set for re-election unopposed in Morocco next year, Infantino’s presidency has faced scrutiny due to the recent controversies. The deadline for potential challengers to enter the election is November 18.