FIFA’s decision to dismiss the high-ranking official who accused Gianni Infantino of misleading staff with his World Cup financial scheme has sparked criticism from Norway soccer president Lise Klaveness. Klaveness expressed her disapproval of the removal of FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, stating that it was unacceptable and reflective of a management style based on fear.

Lamour’s termination came shortly after he openly criticized Infantino’s $20 billion private equity project in an interview with the Associated Press. Klaveness described Lamour as the best football administrator she has encountered and called on FIFA leadership to resist directives that do not serve the best interests of football, specifically mentioning FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström.

As a former Norway national team player, Oslo judge, and UEFA executive committee member, Klaveness emphasized the importance of upholding good governance principles in soccer. Lamour, who had a long history of collaboration with Infantino, including serving at UEFA and supporting his FIFA presidency campaign, played a significant role in managing FIFA’s operations in Zurich.

The fallout from Lamour’s comments has escalated the crisis surrounding Infantino’s leadership, triggering backlash from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF. The controversy stemmed from a secretive plan to sell future World Cup revenues to investors, prompting criticism of Infantino’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Klaveness stressed that Lamour’s remarks were instrumental in halting the controversial project and exposing the lack of transparency within FIFA. She noted that Lamour’s departure was not a resignation but a termination, indicating external pressure influenced the decision.

Following the incident, Infantino convened a meeting with senior management in Rabat, Morocco, where a statement was issued acknowledging mistakes and reaffirming support for Infantino’s presidency. Klaveness criticized the management style within FIFA, referring to it as a culture of fear that does not serve the best interests of football.

Despite the turmoil surrounding Infantino’s leadership, he appeared poised for reelection unchallenged until the recent controversy over the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” initiative. The deadline for potential challengers to enter the election is set for November 18, with Infantino’s reelection now facing uncertainty.