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

Norway’s soccer federation president, Lise Klaveness, harshly criticized FIFA for the dismissal of senior executive Kevin Lamour, accusing the governing body of using fear tactics. Lamour was fired just 17 days after he publicly criticized FIFA leader Gianni Infantino’s withdrawn plan to sell World Cup profits to private investors.

Klaveness, who has been Norway’s soccer federation head since 2022, called the firing "unacceptable" and urged other senior leaders to resist orders that she believes are detrimental to football. Lamour, a long-time colleague of Infantino, resigned in protest, stating that staff felt deceived by Infantino’s lack of transparency regarding the failed sale plan.

Infantino called a meeting with senior management to reaffirm support for his presidency the following week, but Klaveness remains skeptical, describing the situation as "management of fear."