Football: BBC lose Gullit to ITV

ITV Sport have signed up Ruud Gullit from under the nose of the BBC for the World Cup. Gullit had been expected to be part of the Beeb's World Cup team this summer, but ITV Sport announced yesterday that they had signed Gullit on a two-year deal to help present ITV's flagship games in the Champions' League and FA Cup as well as France 98 and the 2000 European Championships. Gullit will make his ITV debut at this year's FA Final on 16 May.

Gullit said: "I've enjoyed working with Trevor Brooking, Alan Hansen and Gary Lineker and now I'll be in a very privileged position working with professionals I also respect, such as Bob Wilson, Alex Ferguson, Kevin Keegan and Terry Venables, on ITV."