The 1994 World Cup lasted for 31 days, giving Richard ample time to wrap up several important matters before the start of preseason.
At the top of his agenda was the bidding war for Rover Group, where he found himself in a fierce battle with BMW for control of the company.
Richard's bid stood at £970 million, while BMW had offered £960 million.
The contest had its pros and cons for both sides. Richard, being British, meant that if Rover fell into his hands, the company would remain under British ownership. However, unlike BMW, he lacked experience in the automotive industry, whereas BMW was already a well-established global car manufacturer.
Despite BMW's reputation, their £960 million bid was simply not enough to match Richard's offer.
Desperate to sway the decision in their favor, BMW lobbied the sitting Prime Minister, arguing that Richard lacked expertise in the car industry, while BMW had decades of experience. The move was almost laughable.
