FIFA’s dismissal of the high-ranking official who accused Gianni Infantino of misleading staff with his World Cup financing scheme was strongly criticized by Norway soccer chief Lise Klaveness on Tuesday. Klaveness urged other leaders within the organization to resist potentially harmful directives.
The ousting of FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour occurred 17 days after his public criticism of Infantino’s $20 billion private equity initiative, leading to his swift departure. Klaveness expressed her dismay in an interview, labeling Lamour as “the finest football administrator I have ever encountered” and condemning his abrupt removal as a form of “management through fear.”
Emphasizing the need for FIFA’s leadership and administration to stand against directives that do not serve football’s best interests, Klaveness specifically singled out FIFA’s secretary general Mattias Grafström. A former professional footballer, Oslo judge, and elected executive committee member at UEFA, Klaveness has upheld Norway’s tradition of promoting good governance in soccer.
Lamour, who had a longstanding professional relationship with Infantino, faced backlash for his pointed criticisms of the FIFA president’s leadership. The controversy stemmed from Infantino’s covert plan to sell future World Cup revenues to investors, prompting objections from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF.
Lamour’s statement on July 31 highlighted the lack of transparency in Infantino’s dealings, stating that FIFA staff deserved better treatment and should not be subject to deceit and intimidation. Klaveness asserted that Lamour’s departure was a termination rather than a voluntary resignation, suggesting that Grafström acted under pressure from the president.
Following Lamour’s exit, FIFA expressed gratitude for his service and wished him well in future endeavors. Klaveness credited Lamour for exposing the questionable project, asserting that it was crucial for the truth to be revealed to distinguish one individual’s actions from the broader organization.
In response to the internal turmoil, Infantino convened a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, with senior management, excluding Lamour. After the meeting, a FIFA statement acknowledged mistakes and affirmed unwavering support for Infantino’s presidency. Klaveness criticized the atmosphere of fear propagated within FIFA, stating that it does not align with the sport’s best interests.
Prior to the controversy surrounding Infantino’s financing proposal, his reelection as FIFA president appeared assured for next year in Morocco. The deadline for potential challengers to enter the race is set for November 18.
