Norway soccer president Lise Klaveness expressed strong disapproval of FIFA’s decision to dismiss the senior official who accused Gianni Infantino of misleading staff with his World Cup financing scheme. Klaveness urged other leaders within the organization to resist potentially harmful directives.
The removal of FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, occurred 17 days after he publicly criticized Infantino’s $20 billion private equity venture, leading to its termination shortly after. Klaveness described Lamour as “the best football administrator I have ever met” and condemned his abrupt dismissal as a form of “management by fear.”
As a former Norway international player, Oslo judge, and elected executive committee member at UEFA, Klaveness has upheld her country’s tradition of advocating for good governance in soccer. Lamour had a longstanding professional relationship with Infantino, having worked together at UEFA before Lamour joined FIFA’s operations in Zurich.
Lamour’s critique of Infantino’s leadership has exacerbated a crisis for the FIFA president, triggering backlash from various soccer bodies over a secretive plan to sell future World Cup revenues to investors. The proposed $4.2 billion investment aimed to provide each of FIFA’s 211 member federations with $20 million, a move that faced widespread opposition within the soccer community.
Klaveness emphasized that Lamour’s departure was not a resignation but a dismissal orchestrated by FIFA’s leadership under pressure from the president. Despite FIFA expressing gratitude for Lamour’s service, Klaveness believed his intervention was crucial in halting the controversial project and revealing the truth behind the decision-making process.
Infantino convened a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, without Lamour, where senior management expressed unwavering support for his presidency following an apology for errors made. Klaveness criticized the atmosphere of fear within FIFA’s management, stating that it does not serve the best interests of football.
Prior to the controversy surrounding Infantino’s financing proposal, his reelection seemed assured for next year. The deadline for potential challengers to enter the race is set for November 18 in Morocco.