AP Interview: Klaveness slams Infantino's FIFA for firing top executive in 'management by fear'

FIFA's dismissal of Kevin Lamour, the executive who criticized FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell World Cup profits, has sparked controversy. Norway's soccer president Lise Klaveness condemned the move, calling it "management by fear" and urging other leaders to resist potentially damaging orders. Lamour, who served as FIFA's chief operating officer, was fired 17 days after his public criticism of Infantino's billion-dollar project.

Klaveness described Lamour as "the best football administrator I have ever met" and expressed her disappointment that he was removed from his position. She also called upon FIFA leadership to not submit to orders that are not in the best interests of football, specifically targeting FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström. Lamour, a former UEFA senior official and a UEFA executive committee member, had been working with Infantino since 2016.

The CEO's criticisms of Infantino's leadership intensified a crisis within FIFA, leading to a backlash from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF. Infantino, who seemed certain to be reelected unopposed, called a meeting with senior management minus Lamour in Rabat, Morocco, after which FIFA apologized for errors and reaffirmed their support for Infantino's presidency.