Fifa signs multi-million pound IT support contract

Deal includes event management systems and internal and external networks

28 billion people watched the World Cup in 2006

Footballing body Fifa has signed two multimillion dollar contracts with IT consultancy Satyam to support upcoming sporting events.

The supplier will develop a customised event management system and build an extranet and intranet for Fifa over the next 12 months, as well as providing uninterrupted support for both solutions.

'We host the world’s most widely viewed sporting events, with as many as 28 billion people watching the 2006 Tournament,' said Fifa head of IT solutions Michael Kelly.

'We cannot afford even a second’s downtime, even during the huge usage spikes throughout games,' he said.