Norway soccer president Lise Klaveness criticized FIFA’s decision to dismiss the senior official who spoke out against Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan. Klaveness described the removal of FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour as unacceptable and urged other leaders within the organization to resist potentially harmful directives.
Lamour’s departure came shortly after he publicly criticized Infantino’s $20 billion private equity project, leading to his termination. Klaveness emphasized that Lamour was an exceptional football administrator and voiced concerns about the management style within FIFA.
As a former Norway international player and an executive committee member at UEFA, Klaveness highlighted the importance of resisting orders that are not in the best interests of football. She specifically called out FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström in this regard.
Lamour, who had a long-standing professional relationship with Infantino, faced repercussions for his outspoken criticism of the FIFA president’s leadership. His comments intensified a crisis within FIFA, triggering backlash from various soccer bodies over a secretive plan involving the sale of future World Cup profits to investors.
Klaveness underscored the significance of Lamour’s statement in exposing the lack of transparency surrounding the failed project. She noted that Lamour’s departure was not a resignation but a dismissal, indicating external pressure from higher authorities within FIFA.
Despite the internal support shown for Infantino during a crisis meeting in Morocco, Klaveness criticized the management approach within FIFA as being driven by fear rather than the best interests of football. The controversy surrounding Infantino’s proposed “FIFA Forward Enterprise” initiative has cast uncertainty over his anticipated reelection next year, with a deadline looming for potential challengers to enter the race.