FIFA faced criticism from Norway soccer president Lise Klaveness for dismissing a top official who spoke out against President Gianni Infantino’s controversial World Cup funding plan. Klaveness condemned the removal of COO Kevin Lamour, describing it as unjust and instilling a culture of fear within the organization.
Lamour’s departure occurred shortly after his public denouncement of Infantino’s $20 billion private equity scheme, which was swiftly scrapped following his remarks. Klaveness praised Lamour as an exceptional football administrator and urged FIFA leaders, particularly secretary general Mattias Grafström, to resist detrimental directives.
A former professional player and UEFA executive committee member, Klaveness emphasized the importance of upholding football’s best interests. Lamour, who had a longstanding association with Infantino, raised concerns about the FIFA president’s leadership, triggering a backlash from several continental football bodies.
The now-scrapped plan involved selling future World Cup revenues to investors, leading to widespread criticism within the football community. Lamour’s public rebuke of Infantino’s lack of transparency in the deal underscored the need for ethical decision-making in soccer governance.
Klaveness clarified that Lamour’s departure was a forced termination, not a voluntary resignation, insinuating external pressure from higher authorities. Despite FIFA’s official acknowledgment of Lamour’s service, Klaveness credited his intervention for halting the controversial project and exposing the lack of transparency within FIFA’s leadership.
Infantino convened a meeting in Morocco without Lamour, where managerial support for his presidency was reaffirmed amid internal turmoil. Klaveness criticized the management style within FIFA as fostering a climate of fear and emphasized the importance of prioritizing football’s welfare above all else.
Prior to the scandal surrounding the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” initiative, Infantino seemed poised for a smooth reelection next year. However, the backlash has cast uncertainty over his future, with the deadline for potential challengers to enter the race approaching in November.