Latest news with #Richards'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
In an inexperienced US squad, Chris Richards' presence will be key
Chris Richards is fresh off a strong end to his Premier League season, and he's staring down an important task: take hold of a leadership role in the US backline, and help to fix an ailing US men's national team. Easy, right? Advertisement Compared to his recent exploits at club level, maybe. A few weeks ago, the 25-year-old Crystal Palace defender helped shut down Manchester City's foreboding lineup in the FA Cup final, leading his team to their first major trophy and becoming just the third American to secure that storied prize. With Guardiola's versatile crew holding nearly 80% of possession, Richards was stolid in defending and dominant in the air, winning nearly all of his duels while registering four blocked shots and 11 clearances in a historic 1-0 win. Navigating Concacaf's Gold Cup Group D – with Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti waiting – presents a different sort of challenge. It's unlikely the US will be limited to 20% of possession in any phase of the Gold Cup, however deep their run takes them; Richards' skill with the ball at his feet will be called upon as much as his defending. The team's two pre-tournament friendlies against solid Uefa teams – Türkiye this Saturday and Switzerland on Tuesday– will be a valuable opportunity to test their mettle against the caliber of teams they might meet in the knockout phase of a World Cup. Related: USMNT greats Donovan, Howard criticize absence of top players from Gold Cup But the team's primary collective issue at the moment seems to be mental. And for Richards, whose bright promise has been blighted over the years by injuries or uncertain club minutes, the question of the summer is whether he can translate his most convincing club form to the national team crest. Advertisement 'It's been really great to see how much he's grown, and I think the ceiling for him as a player hasn't been, hasn't even been brushed yet,' said Matt Turner told reporters from US training week, having just completed a season as Richards' club teammate at Crystal Palace. 'The way he approached every single day in training when he crosses that white line is really fun to see.' With the bitter taste of the Nations League still lingering and the 2026 World Cup a year off, that sort of attitude adjustment could be exactly what the US needs. Arguably the last time the gritty characteristics that defined the USMNT were seen in full came in 2023, when Richards first staked his claim as a major player for the 2026 cycle. Richards took a long road to get there. After registering four starts and five appearances in Gregg Berhalter's backline during World Cup qualifying, injuries kept him from the 2022 World Cup. A year and a half passed between caps before Richards made a roaring return in Las Vegas for the 2023 Concacaf Nations League. He helped the US to a 3-0 win against Mexico in a wild semi-final that featured four red cards and nine yellow cards, and the immediately iconic image of Weston McKennie with his shirt in tatters while kissing the crest. Advertisement Related: Pulisic's surge to Balogun's plunge: how USMNT stars fared in Europe this season Richards scored his first and only USMNT goal in the 12th minute of the final, floating gracefully above the Canadian backline to head a ball from Reyna past Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan, before running to the corner to celebrate. If there is a vibe this team needs to reacquire, it's whatever aura fell over the squad during that strange week in Vegas. Thanks to injuries, personal requests, drops in form and other reasons, only three of the players that started against Canada that June are present in this roster. Richards is one of them. 'Today we have plenty of players playing abroad for USA. But the most important thing is the culture,' US manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Landon Donovan and Tim Howard's Unfiltered Soccer podcast. 'I think that we saw in you [Donovan and Howard] that to be desperate to come and be the priority, the national team … Because the possibility to defend one time, one time more, your flag, your shirt, I think that this is, I want to feel proud about that. And that is the responsibility of us to translate.' What the USMNT sorely needs from a player of Richards' stature is not simply to be present in the backline, but to find his next level with the national team, and command it. Whether playing Switzerland on Tuesday or Concacaf opposition in yet another Gold Cup knockout bout, Richards must grasp what's left of this team's flailing momentum and play a central role in propelling it toward a different future.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Wells exec sues Fed for deferred compensation
This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. James Richards, a former Wells Fargo executive, has sued the Federal Reserve for denying his post-retirement deferred compensation, raising questions about the central bank's authority in deciding executive compensation. The case, filed last week in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argued that the central bank has caused Richards legal harm and 'adversely' affected him. He is seeking judicial review of the Fed's determination and denial of his application to receive his deferred compensation. The Fed's board denied Richards' application in March. Attorneys for Richards noted the Fed's decision to deny their client's application and prevent him from 'receiving his earned compensation was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with law.' 'Furthermore, the procedure used by the Board in reaching its decision to deprive Plaintiff of his property was contrary to Plaintiff's constitutional right to due process,' attorneys argued. Richards was Wells Fargo's Bank Secrecy Act officer and the head of its financial crimes risk management group during his tenure. He worked at the bank from October 2005 until he voluntarily retired in April 2018. His compensation included an annual award of restricted share rights, which had four-year vesting periods. The discretionary RSRs were only awarded if Wells found Richards' performance credible enough to receive them. The core dispute centered on whether the deferred compensation should be classified as a retention incentive. The Fed classified Richards' deferred compensation as a 'golden parachute payment,' a claim that the complaint says is erroneous. It then argued that the RSRs were actually 'golden handcuffs' since they were part of annual earned compensation, designed to encourage continued employment, and generally payable only if employment continued. The attorneys argued that the compensation was not severance pay, a windfall, or an 'extra' payment for protection during acquisition or termination. The complaint contended that Richards' receipt of his deferred compensation – the RSRs – was not contingent on his termination. On the contrary, the RSR agreement 'flatly' states that the shares were intended to be an incentive for Richards to continue working at Wells Fargo since those generally cease vesting once Richard's employment is terminated. 'This is the exact opposite of a 'golden parachute' payment. In fact, the RSRs were designed to be 'golden handcuffs,' not a 'golden parachute,'' the lawsuit said. However, prior to Richards' retirement, federal regulators deemed the bank to be in 'troubled condition,' and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued four consent orders related to several issues at the bank. According to federal regulations, after a bank has been found to be in troubled condition, 'golden parachute payments' cannot be made to employees following the end of their employment unless the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the board gives their permission to the bank to make such payments. To grant post-termination payments, either the bank or the employee must send a 'certification' letter affirming that the employee did not engage in any misconduct that would prevent the employee from receiving the due compensation. During Richards' tenure, one of the OCC consent orders identified deficiencies in documentation within the bank's wholesale banking unit. Wells Fargo did not release the shares that Richards was scheduled to vest in the first two tranches of the RSRs that he was awarded between 2015 and 2018. Instead, the lender sent a letter to Richards stating that it canceled his 2019 and 2020 RSRs and that the bank would not send the required 'certification' letter to federal regulators on his behalf for him to receive his 2021 and 2022 RSRs, citing the 2015 wholesale consent order. The court document noted that Richards was one of the few people at the bank who raised concerns about the wholesale banking group's problems, even though he had no operational authority over it. The bank and federal regulators praised Richards for his efforts 'to provide significant material assistance' to the wholesale banking group. Wells Fargo failed to identify any misconduct on Richards' part and recommended that he send his own 'self-certification letter' to the federal regulators, noting that it was willing to pay Richards his deferred compensation for 2021 and 2022 if they approved his application. Richards sent the required letter and supporting documentation to the board in July 2021. Richards' attorneys refuted the claim, saying 'they are either unsupported by the factual record, or are contrary to the factual record, or are a complete misstatement of the facts.' In the March denial letter, the board cited three reasons for rejecting Richards' request and noted that he was 'substantially responsible' for the wholesale banking group's 'troubled condition' regarding the 2015 consent order. Richards' attorneys refuted the claim, saying 'they are either unsupported by the factual record, or are contrary to the factual record, or are a complete misstatement of the facts.' The attorneys challenged that the decision violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the 'golden parachute' classification, thereby seeking reversal of both determinations. Wells Fargo declined to comment. The OCC terminated the 2015 consent order related to its BSA/AML compliance program in 2021. Richards is hardly the first Wells Fargo executive to sue for his deferred compensation. In December 2023, former Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan sued the bank he once led, claiming it owes him more than $34 million in canceled stock awards, unpaid bonuses and 'emotional distress.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Richards would 'love to stay' at Exeter City
Highly rated Exeter City teenager Jake Richards says he would "love to stay" at the League One 17-year-old has still yet to agree his first professional deal at the club, having come up through the midfielder has featured in 19 first-team games this season, including 11 appearances in League One, and was named the division's apprentice of the year at the English Football League (EFL) awards. Negotiations between the club, Richards' representatives and his family are ongoing, with manager Gary Caldwell stating his desire to keep the talented midfielder at St James Park."Exeter's my hometown club so I'd love to stay and I'd love to be here for as long as possible," Richards told BBC Radio Devon."But there's obviously things going on behind the scenes that aren't really in my control. Negotiations are happening and ongoing."Not everything's true in the media, so things can sort of get tangled, but I'd love to be here next season and prove again the type of player I am because I still believe that I haven't shown what I'm fully capable of yet." Richards is the latest young player come to through Exeter's much-admired academy, following in the footsteps of the likes of Ollie Watkins, Ethan Ampadu and Jay Stansfield. Having made his debut as a 16-year-old in the first round of last season's Carabao Cup, Richards' involvement in the first team has gradually season he scored his first goals as a professional and has played 633 minutes in League says winning an EFL award for his work has inspired him to improve further."It's good that I've been recognised for my hard work and what I've done over the last two years," he said."It's obviously a personal achievement and I'm very happy about it, but I've just got to go into next season and obviously try and do the same, but with something bigger, aiming towards maybe League One young player of the season and stuff like that."
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Crystal Palace rediscovered their resilience in time for when they need it most
Sometimes, adversity brings the best out of you. The past nine days have been difficult for anyone of a Crystal Palace persuasion after Manchester City and Newcastle United took turns hosting and smashing five goals past Oliver Glasner's side. Glasner said Palace needed to take 'one more step back' and go 'back to the roots' before their match against Bournemouth. That was in serious jeopardy when Chris Richards was sent off in first-half stoppage time for tugging on Justin Kluivert's arm, a second caution after being booked for fouling Dango Ouattara earlier. Advertisement Following Eberechi Eze's offside goal to make it 3-0 against City and his missed penalty to draw Palace level at St James' Park, Richards' dismissal was another poignant Sliding Doors moment. This time, Palace used it to their advantage. The Athletic's match dashboard, showing how Crystal Palace restricted Bournemouth's opportunities in front of goal The first half at Selhurst Park was hardly a classic, at times offering a throwback to the 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day. Bournemouth enjoyed 65 per cent possession and had six shots, but they yielded just 0.4 expected goals (xG, a measure of the team's quality of chances). Andoni Iraola's side were at their best when their forwards or full-backs ran in behind the defence, but those moments were infrequent and appropriately dealt with. Palace were content with staying solid and hitting the visitors on the counter, but that quest for solidity created anxiety. Richards hit a clearance against Bournemouth striker Evanilson in the third minute that went unpunished, Maxence Lacroix hacked at the ball multiple times, and Tyrick Mitchell fought a losing battle against Antoine Semenyo. Mitchell was also on the receiving end of Will Hughes' fury in the 43rd minute when the Palace wing-back was caught on his heels, allowing Bournemouth to recover possession in Palace's defensive third. 'When you enter with 10 goals conceded in the last two games on your shoulder, it is not easy, and we could see (the players) were not full of confidence in the first half,' Glasner conceded after the match. Richards' dismissal could have dented that confidence further, especially given it arrived 10 minutes after Bournemouth's Alex Scott had avoided a similar second yellow card for bringing Ismaila Sarr down on a Palace break. Scott was replaced by Lewis Cook at half-time, perhaps an admission from Iraola that his midfielder was treading a fine line. But instead, the moment galvanised Palace. Eze, who, along with Sarr, was Palace's principal outlet, was withdrawn at half-time for the physicality and aerial ability of Jefferson Lerma. Glasner added post-match that Lerma's introduction was made to shift Palace's shape from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-4-1. That back four turned into a back five when Bournemouth entered the attacking third, with Daniel Munoz slotting in alongside Lerma, Lacroix, Marc Guehi, and Mitchell. Advertisement The compact setup — and the situation itself — brought the best out of all five, particularly Mitchell and Lacroix, with their positioning and nine combined clearances after the break made with complete conviction. Hughes and Adam Wharton shut down the central areas, forcing Bournemouth to work around Palace rather than through or in behind them like they did in the first half. Wharton, showing confidence and an understanding of what Palace required, produced a moment of quality in the 49th minute when he made a perfectly timed sliding tackle, got back to his feet, and carried the ball past a player before being fouled by Ouattara, who was booked. Wharton's all-action display is illustrated in his player dashboard below. Behind them all, Dean Henderson convincingly dealt with whatever came his way while actively targeting Sarr and Munoz on the right wing with his goal kicks. The duo, who have produced plenty of goals during Palace's best displays in 2025, showed their defensive value up the pitch, outduelling Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez and Cook repeatedly to win the first ball and force throw-ins to get their side a breather. Jean Philippe-Mateta hustled with Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen all afternoon and was valuable in defensive set pieces. The late substitutes — Daichi Kamada, Eddie Nketiah and Justin Devenny — helped finish what the rest had set in motion. Every time Bournemouth raised the tempo with quicker passes and more off-the-ball movement, Palace responded with resilience and did the simple things right. Contrary to games against Manchester City and Newcastle, where they were punished for individual errors, this was a display characterised by unified discipline. In the context of what Palace have ahead of them, with Arsenal in the league on Wednesday and Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, perhaps they needed to flirt with disaster and know they have what it takes to combat it. Facing Arsenal at the Emirates is a challenge, even with them throwing their eggs in the Champions League basket. Villa, who Palace beat 4-1 in February, have won five league games in a row since and demolished Newcastle 4-1 hours after Palace's draw. Advertisement Post-match, Glasner deemed his team's second-half performance 'outstanding' before adding that he saw 'a little bit of disappointment' in the dressing room for not beating Bournemouth. If they scale that peak at Wembley on Saturday instead, the 45 minutes that followed Richards' red card a week earlier will be viewed as one of the catalysts.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
East Texas Rep. helps deny memorial resolution of former head of Planned Parenthood
TYLER, Texas (KETK)–On Thursday, State Rep. Brent Money pushed back against memorial resolution set to honor Cecile Richards. The entire calendar was withdrawn and not brought to a vote. Richards was the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America from 2002-2018. She is a native Texan and died from an aggressive form of brain cancer in January. Normally, memorial resolution go without controversy and unites both sides of the aisle, but some conservatives would not let the motion pass with Richards' name on the list. 'For someone who is really only known for being the purveyor and advocate for women to be able to just indiscriminately murder their own children was a bridge too far for us,' State Rep. Brent Money said. Rep. Donna Howard was honored to serve Richards' district, touting that her life was changed through Richards' counsel and friendship. 'Cecile fought to ensure every Texan had equal access to a quality education, affordable health care, and opportunities to realize their version of the American dream. She is known by many for her tenacity, grit, wisdom and heart,' State Rep. Donna Howard said. Lawmakers debated the resolution for nearly two hours. Many said it goes against the policy the state put in place against abortions. 'Any Republican that votes for this calendar is going to end up voting for Cecile Richards,' said Money. Other honorees alongside Richards included William Everett Brannon Jr. of Sulphur Springs, former Houston Rep. Sheila Jackson lee and Corey D. Comperatore of Sarver who died while shielding his family during the attempted assassination of President Trump. 'Unlike other families who have had the opportunity to come to the capital to memorialize their loved ones, the Richards' family was denied that opportunity,' said Howard. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
