2011 Magallanes protests, Background
On December 29, 2010, the directory of Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (ENAP, National Petroleum Company) faced with high deficits due to subsidies provided to XII Region (Magallanes and Antártica Chilena) gas customers, proposed to increase the price of the natural gas by 16.8% in the region, located in the southern extreme of Chile, where everything requires gas heating because of the extreme climate. The apparent increase in the price was actually the result of a reduction of the heavily subsidised pricing for natural gas for users in this region. ENAP provides subsidies of approximately 80 percent of the delivered cost of gas in this region. As a result, users receive extremely low-cost natural gas, while residential users of natural gas in the Santiago region pay extremely high prices for the same commodity.


2011 Magallanes protests, Protests
Empresa Nacional del Petróleo's decision, supported by the President Sebastián Piñera, the Energy Minister Ricardo Raineri, and the Mining Minister Laurence Golborne, prompted a series of protests in that region during the following weeks, including mass mobilisations, and a stoppage in the region's most important cities, such as Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.


2011 Magallanes protests, Protests
On January 11, the Asamblea Ciudadana de Magallanes (Magallanes Citizens' Assembly) convoked an indefinite strike from that midnight. Two women, Claudia Castillo Campos, 19, and Melisa Silva Ruiz, 23, were killed by a truck during the protests in Punta Arenas that night. The driver of the truck was trying to run through the illegal barricades that were being operated by the persons who were injured. The events took place late at night and involved the serious injury of an unsupervised small child. The parents, who could have been charged with endangering the child, received no legal sanctions.


2011 Magallanes protests, Protests
On the same day, more than thirty-one persons were arrested, some while trying to loot,  burn, or otherwise destroy public property. Punta Arenas judges ordered the nearly immediate release of almost  all those who were caught by the police. After the first manifestations, Carabineros de Chile requested a contingent of Special Forces to control the strike.


2011 Magallanes protests, Protests
During the January 12, the strike continued in the main towns of the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, extending itself to the main border crossings with Argentina. More than two thousand cars remained isolated while trying to cross from the province of Tierra del Fuego to the province of Santa Cruz through Chilean territory. Another 1,500 tourists were left without movement in Torres del Paine National Park after routes to Puerto Natales and El Calafate were cut.


2011 Magallanes protests, Protests
Actions by the protesters halted buses of people attempting to flee from Chile, leaving them at barricaded locations outside the cities, unable to move except by walking. This "forced march" situation adversely affected many elderly tourists, including those with disabilities, resulting in human rights complaints and well as violations of Chilean national law providing for free passage within the country. The Chilean national police, the Carabineros, refused to act on behalf of the foreign visitors by enforcing the national law, instead leaving these people without access to food or water, stranded without transportation outside the cities.


2011 Magallanes protests, Protests
Many elderly and handicapped people were thus forced to walk for up to 20 km. Before the regional protests and rebellion against the law were over, thousands of people had to be evacuated. Some chose to walk from Puerto Natales to the frontier with Argentina, where they were received as refugees, and given assistance to onward travel and other accommodation. Eventually the US Embassy quietly arranged for a cooperative effort involving the Chilean Air Force. Squadron Commander Vegas was credited with a successful airlift of several thousand visitors, with most being delivered to the Punta Arenas airport for onward transportation so that those people could flee from southern Chile. LAN airlines was able to evacuate many of these affected people with flights to Santiago.


2011 Magallanes protests, Protests
Although it worked normally, cuts in the route to President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport forced the suspension of Sky Airline and LAN Airlines flights.


2011 Magallanes protests, Consequences
Prior to the conclusion of the protests, the Interior Ministry invoked the Law of Internal Security of the State, with the intent to begin judicial determination of those responsible for the damages inflicted during the disturbances. The value of the damages varies, but was estimated in the Prensa Austral as being economic damage of approximately US$14 million, with additional damages to the infrastructure of Punta Arenas.


2011 Magallanes protests, Consequences
The law of Internal Security of the State also provides for the use of the Chilean armed forces in restoring civil order, and the invocation of this law may have played a part in bringing the Asambla Ciudadana de Magallanes to the bargaining table. On January 14, the Minister Secretary General of Government Ena von Baer announced changes in Sebastián Piñera's Government cabinet, including the resignment of Ricardo Raineri as Energy Minister. Laurence Golborne became Mining and Energy Minister, on January 16.


2011 Magallanes protests, End of the conflict
On January 18, an agreement between the Government of Chile and the Magallanes Citizens' Assembly was signed. The government proposed to increase the price of gas by 3%, far less than its originally planned increase of almost 17%. Industries will also be benefited by the agreement. Also, the government proposed to give 17,000 subsidies to the poorest families in the region, which will not be affected by the 3% increase.


2011 Magherafelt District Council election
Elections to Magherafelt District Council were held on 5 May 2011 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used three district electoral areas to elect a total of 16 councillors.


2011 Magherafelt District Council election, Districts results, Magherafelt Town
2005: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin gain from DUP


2011 Magherafelt District Council election, Districts results, Moyola
2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP2005-2011 Change: No change


2011 Magherafelt District Council election, Districts results, Sperrin
2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP2005-2011 Change: No change


2011 Magny-Cours Superbike World Championship round
The 2011 Magny-Cours Superbike World Championship round was the twelfth round of the 2011 Superbike World Championship. It took place on the weekend of September 30 and October 1–2, 2011 at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France.


2011 Magny-Cours Superbike World Championship round
Carlos Checa became 2011 Superbike World Champion after winning Race 1, while Ducati claimed the Manufacturers' Championship after Race 2. In Supersport, Chaz Davies, who finishing sixth in the race, secured his title with one round remaining.


2011 Magyar Kupa (men's water polo)
The 2011 Magyar Kupa, known as (Hungarian: Theodora Férfi Magyar Kupa for sponsorship reasons), is the 85th edition of the tournament.


2011 Magyar Kupa (men's water polo), Quarter-finals
Quarter-final matches were played on 4 and 5 November 2011.


2011 Magyar Kupa (men's water polo), Final four
The final four will be held on 12 and 13 November 2011 at the Szőnyi úti uszoda in Budapest.


2011 Magyar Kupa Final
The Magyar Kupa Final was the final match of the 2010–11 Magyar Kupa, played between Kecskemét and Videoton.


2011 Maidstone Borough Council election
Elections to Maidstone Borough Council were held on 5 May 2011. One-third of the borough council (20 members) were up for election. Parish council elections and the national Alternative Vote referendum were held on the same day.


2011 Maidstone Borough Council election, Overall results
The Conservatives stayed in overall control of the council by gaining two seats. The Liberal Democrats lost two seats.


2011 Maine Black Bears football team
The 2011 Maine Black Bears football team represented the University of Maine in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Black Bears were led by 19th-year head coach Jack Cosgrove and played their home games at Alfond Stadium. They are a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 9–4, 6–2 in CAA play to finish in a three way tie for second place. They received an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs where they defeated Appalachian State in the second round before falling to Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals.


2011 Maine Question 1
Maine Question 1, "Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election? ", was a 2011 people's veto referendum that rejected a bill repealing Election Day voter registration in Maine. The vote was held on November 8, 2011 after being placed on the ballot due to supporters collecting the necessary number of signatures. The veto effort was successful, with 237,024 votes in favor of repeal to 155,156 against repeal.


2011 Maine Question 1, Background
Maine has permitted same-day voter registration since 1973. Upon taking control of both houses of the Maine Legislature and the Governor's office simultaneously for the first time since 1963 in 2010, the Republicans passed LD 1376, which was signed by Gov. Paul LePage on June 21, 2011. The bill, sponsored by Speaker Robert Nutting, eliminated same-day voter registration along with prohibiting registration and absentee voting two business days before an election. Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers, in announcing his support for the bill, stated that "This is designed to relieve stresses on the system.


2011 Maine Question 1, Background
People can try to assign falsehoods and nefarious reasons behind it, but that’s not what this is about." Summers also wrote an editorial in which he stated that the bill was a proactive step to secure the integrity of elections, and not a step to prevent voter fraud. He also rejected the idea by opponents of the bill that same-day registration led to increased voter turnout, noting both that such turnout was high before same-day registration and increased with the passage of moter-voter legislation in 1990.


2011 Maine Question 1, Background
The Maine chapter of AARP testified in opposition to the bill, claiming that it would make it harder for some senior citizens to vote, who would then have to go to their town or city office twice to register and vote instead of once.


2011 Maine Question 1, Background
Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster generated controversy when claiming during the runup to LD 1376's passage that Democrats used same-day registration to "intentionally steal elections" and that they had "bused voters" into Maine to vote due to the allowing of same-day registration. He later toned down his comments to state that he thought Democrats used same-day registration to "influence" elections, especially through college students and Job Corps members voting. Democrats heavily criticized his comments, claiming it reflected a true agenda of wanting to make electoral gains at democracy's expense.


2011 Maine Question 1, Background
After passage of the bill, supporters of same-day registration launched a petition drive on July 8, 2011 to put the issue on the ballot though the group Protect Maine Votes. The question approved for circulation on the petition forms was "Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election?" They did not seek to repeal the portion of the law regarding absentee voting. Some city clerks like the one in Bangor stated that they favored that portion of the law but had little issue with same-day registration.


2011 Maine Question 1, Background
During the petition drive, supporters were critical of Webster and Secretary Summers for holding press conferences discussing voter fraud, claiming they were doing so to "play politics" and distract from the petition gathering effort.


2011 Maine Question 1, Background
Supporters turned in over 68,000 signatures to Secretary Summers by the deadline of August 8, 2011, well over the required number of 57,277. Summers announced 30 days later that enough signatures were verified to place the question on the ballot. As the only people's veto question to reach the ballot, it was automatically numbered Question 1 per Maine law.


2011 Maine Question 1, Campaign
Nutting and other opponents of repeal stated that their primary intent in passing the original bill was to reduce the workload on municipal clerks, who saw increased absentee and same-day voting, in order to better prevent voter fraud,  which they claimed was difficult to do with the constraints of same-day registration. Nutting further noted that Mainers would have still had 247 days a year to register to vote, other states have periods of up to 30 days they can't register before an election, and that thinking Mainers would not adjust to such a requirement was an insult to them. Some opponents of repeal also claimed same-day registration led to "lazy and uninformed people" voting. Opponents organized under the name Secure Maine's Ballot.


2011 Maine Question 1, Campaign
Supporters of repeal, led by Protect Maine Votes, stated claims by opponents of repeal about overworked municipal clerks were unsubstantiated, and that there was no evidence of a problem with voter fraud in Maine. They claimed that having same-day voter registration since 1973 is one reason for Maine's traditionally high rate of voter turnout, releasing studies to support their position, such as one that stated that the top five states in voter turnout all permitted same-day registration. They further claimed that the effort to pass the bill was an attempt to limit constituencies that traditionally vote Democratic from voting, such as college students.


2011 Maine Question 1, Campaign
Protect Maine Votes further noted that many Republican officials now opposed to same-day registration had made use of it in the past, including Governor LePage, two state senators, and eight state representatives. Protect Maine Votes spokesman David Farmer, in announcing that finding, noted that "The day and time you register is not an indicator of your interest in the election." They also noted that in 2010 roughly the same number of same-day registrants were Republicans as Democrats.


2011 Maine Question 1, Campaign
It was noted by outlets like the Bangor Daily News that, since the active People's Veto effort suspended the bill repealing it, Mainers could still register on Election Day to vote on the measure.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 82nd in-season exhibition game between the All-Stars of the National League (NL) and the American League (AL); the leagues composing Major League Baseball. The event was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the National League Arizona Diamondbacks. The game ended in a 5–1 win for the National League, their second straight All-Star victory. It was the first MLB All-Star Game to be held in Arizona and the first in a National League Park to have a designated hitter.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
With a combination of injuries and rule enforcements, a record 84 players were named to the All-Star rosters. This broke the record of 82 players that were on rosters for the 2010 game.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Background
As with each All-Star Game since 1970, the nine starting position players  of each league were elected by fan balloting. The remaining players were selected by a players' vote, each league's team manager, and a second fan balloting to add one more player to each roster. In all, 32 players were selected to each league's team, not including players who decline to play due to injuries or personal reasons.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Background
Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin confirmed on April 10, 2009, that Arizona would host the 2011 All-Star Game and it was officially announced by Commissioner Bud Selig the next day. Phoenix had never hosted the All-Star Game before; the last first-time host city was Denver, Colorado in 1998. The game was the ninth straight All-Star Game to decide home-field advantage in the World Series. Prior All-Star games had only used the designated hitter (DH) rule when in American League parks. However, the 2011 game was the first to feature a DH in a NL park following a rules change in 2010. The NL came into the game having won the previous year's match, their first victory since 1996.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Background, Immigration controversy
Some, such as New York Congressman José Serrano and sportswriter Mike Lupica, had suggested that Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig should move the game because of the controversial SB1070 anti-illegal immigration bill passed by the Arizona legislature and signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer. Others considered asking club owners, sponsors and even players to boycott the All-Star Game if the law was implemented and the game remained in Phoenix. However, Selig announced  on May 13, 2010, that the game would remain at Chase Field in Phoenix as planned.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Fan balloting, Starters
Balloting for the 2011 All-Star Game starters began online April 26 and continued through June 30. Fan voting also took place in each MLB stadium, beginning May 10 (at the latest) and ending on June 24. The top vote-getters at each position and the top three among outfielders, were named the starters for their respective leagues. The results were announced on July 3. A record 32.5 million votes were cast, beating out the previous record from 2009 by roughly 9 million. José Bautista was the leading vote-getter with 7,454,753 votes, easily breaking the previous single-player vote record of 6,069,688 held by Ken Griffey Jr. Three other American League players also topped Griffey's record. Ryan Braun was the National League's leading vote getter, receiving a NL record 5,928,004 votes.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Fan balloting, Final roster spot
After the rosters were revealed, a second ballot of five players per league was created for the All-Star Final Vote to determine the 34th and final player of each roster, with online balloting conducted from Sunday afternoon, July 3, through Thursday afternoon, July 7. The winners of the final vote were Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox (AL) and Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies. Victorino became the first ever two-time Final Vote winner, having also won in 2009.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Rosters
Players in italics have since been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game summary, Box Score
UMPIRES: Home Plate – Dale Scott; First Base – Jerry Layne; Second Base – Hunter Wendelstedt; Third Base – Dan Iassogna; Left Field – Ed Hickox; Right Field – Chris Guccione Weather: Indoors Time of Game: 2:50 Attendance: 47,994


2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game summary, Box Score
The American League struck first on Adrián González's two-out home run in the fourth off of Cliff Lee, who allowed two singles. Tyler Clippard in relief allowed a single to Adrian Beltre, but José Bautista was tagged out at home to end the inning. In the bottom half, after two leadoff singles, Prince Fielder's three-run home run off of C. J. Wilson put the National League up 3–1. Next inning, Rickie Weeks reached first on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on Andre Ethier's single off of Jordan Walden. The National League added another run in the seventh when Hunter Pence hit a leadoff single, moved to third on Brandon League's passed ball and scored on Pablo Sandoval's ground-rule double and went on to win the game 5–1.


2011 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby
The 2011 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby (known through sponsorship as the State Farm Home Run Derby) was a home run hitting contest in Major League Baseball (MLB) between four batters each from the National League and American League. The derby was held on July 11, 2011, at the site of the 2011 MLB All-Star Game, Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.


2011 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby
Robinson Canó won the derby, setting a record for home runs in the final round with 12.


2011 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Rules
Each participant is thrown pitches by a pitcher of his choice. The hitter has the option of not swinging at a pitch. If he swings at a pitch and misses or hits the pitch anywhere but in home run territory, it is considered an out. Each player hits until he receives 10 outs in each round. When nine outs are reached in each round, a "gold money ball" comes into play.


2011 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Rules
In the first two rounds, home run totals will carry over for those rounds. Should there be a tie after either of the first two rounds, a "Swing-Off" takes place. In a Swing-Off, each tied player gets five swings to get as many home runs as possible. If after the 5 swings a tie still remains, players get one more swing to determine the winner. Home runs hit during a first round Swing-Off do not count towards the player's total going into the second round. All eight players participate in the first round; the four highest totals from round one will move to the semi-finals. The players with top two totals will face off in the finals, with the scores reset from the first two rounds.


2011 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Charitable initiatives
State Farm donates US $3,000 for each non-Money Ball home run for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and US$18,000 (one dollar for each State Farm agent) for Gold Ball homers (which are home runs hit after 9 outs have been recorded) in the first round, increasing after each round. In addition, eight BGCA representatives for Arizona received a minimum of US$10,000, with the overall winner's representative receiving US$50,000 for their local clubs. The total amount raised was US$603,000.


2011 Major League Baseball draft
The 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole out of the University of California, Los Angeles, with the first overall pick.


2011 Major League Baseball draft, Draft order
The draft order was determined by the 2010 Major League Baseball standings. The Pittsburgh Pirates received the first pick after having the worst record in 2010.


2011 Major League Baseball draft, Draft order
The Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers each received a compensation pick for failing to sign draft picks from the 2010 draft. Also, teams lost draft picks for signing certain free agents, while teams losing free agents received draft picks as compensation. The Elias Sports Bureau ranks all players based on performance over the past two seasons, with the top 20% being considered "Type A" and the next 20% considered "Type B".


2011 Major League Baseball draft, Draft order
If a team offers a Type A free agent arbitration and he signs with another club, the player's former team obtains the new team's first- or second-round pick, depending on whether the new team is in the top 15 or bottom 15 in won–loss records in 2011, as well as a supplemental pick after the first round. If a team offers a Class B free agent arbitration and he signs with another club, the former team gets a supplemental pick after the first round.


2011 Major League Baseball draft, Draft order
On September 8, 2019, Danny Hultzen became the last of the first 29 picks to appear in a Major League game, when he made his debut for the Chicago Cubs.


2011 Major League Baseball season
The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on Thursday, March 31, and ended on Wednesday, September 28. This marked the first time a season began on a Thursday since 1976, and the first time a regular season ended on a Wednesday since 1990. The 82nd edition of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 12 with the National League defeating the American League for the second straight year, by a score of 5–1. As has been the case since 2003, the league winning that game has home field advantage in the World Series. Accordingly, the World Series began on October 19, and ended on October 28, with the St. Louis Cardinals winning in seven games over the Texas Rangers.


2011 Major League Baseball season
Only two teams were unable to complete the entire 162-game regular season schedule, as the make-up game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 8 was cancelled due to rain and not made up, owing to scheduling constraints and the game being inconsequential to the playoffs.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162
On the last day of the 2011 regular season, the postseason fate of four teams fighting for two playoff spots across both leagues was decided. In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros to win the National League wild card berth after the Atlanta Braves lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162
In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated their American League East division rivals the New York Yankees with dramatic home runs in the 9th inning by Dan Johnson and later in extra innings by Evan Longoria to win the American League wild card berth after the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox on a walk-off single.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162
The Rays returned to the playoffs for the second consecutive year despite losing many players from the year before. The Red Sox and Braves suffered two of the most epic collapses their respective franchises had ever had, losing their playoff spots on the last day and in the last game of the season despite leading the next contending teams by multiple games at the start of the last month of the season.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162
The Cardinals eventually rode the momentum of their win to win the NLDS and NLCS on their way to defeating the Texas Rangers for their 11th World Series title. The 2011 season was the final season of the single wildcard format, as MLB added second wildcard teams to each league starting with the 2012 season. The excitement of the final day of the 2011 season was cited as an argument against this change in format, as the new format would not have allowed for such an ending to the season.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 – 7:05 pm (EDT) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles
The Red Sox were favored by pundits to win the American League pennant prior to the start of the season due to acquisitions of Adrián González, Carl Crawford and Bobby Jenks. Despite a slow start, Boston darted to the top of the division during the summer months. Injuries plagued the team and they slowly lost first place to the Yankees, but were still in comfortable contention for the wild card. The month of September started an epic slump for the team where the team had allowed the Rays to get back into contention. However, Boston still controlled its own destiny going into their final series with the last place Orioles, but wound up having the season come down to the last game.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles
The Red Sox had taken a lead for a good part of the game, but the Orioles mounted a comeback. The game was interrupted by a rain delay in the middle of the 7th with Boston ahead 3–2. After play had resumed almost an hour and a half later, the Orioles still trailed by a run in the bottom of the 9th. When leading after eight innings, the Red Sox were 77–0 in 2011. Facing closer Jonathan Papelbon, Chris Davis and Nolan Reimold hit back-to-back doubles with two outs, which tied the game. The next batter, Robert Andino, hit a line drive to left field which Carl Crawford was unable to catch, allowing Reimold to score and the Orioles walked off with the win.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles
After the Orioles won, Andino, who had been a Red Sox killer of late, said, "End of season like this, to make Boston go home sad, crying, I'll take it all day."


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 – 7:10 pm (EDT) at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
The Yankees had already won the American League East several days prior to this contest. The Rays had been in third place behind both the Yankees and the Red Sox for much of the season. However, Boston had slowly started to lose many games in September due to poor starting and relief pitching, disappointing hitting from newly acquired free agent Carl Crawford throughout the year, and injuries to key players like Kevin Youkilis. The Rays, who had won the division in 2010, had lost many of their players to free agency. Despite the losses, the Rays had crawled back into contention and faced the Yankees in the final series of the year.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
Yankees manager Joe Girardi indicated that he would approach the final games so that the team's pitching staff would be set up for the 2011 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. Suspicions rose to whether or not the Yankees would compete intensely due to them wanting to rest their aging players for the playoffs and to keep the Red Sox out, their fierce rivals whom they had a lopsided losing record to that season. Girardi indicated that many of his post-season pitchers would not be pitching that game.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
The Yankees, however, started the game strong by taking a 5–0 lead by the 2nd inning. Their lead grew to 7–0, which they held as the game entered the bottom of the 8th inning. In the 8th inning, the Rays scored six runs, capped off by a three-run home run by Evan Longoria. In the bottom of the 9th inning, down to his final strike, struggling Rays first baseman Dan Johnson hit a solo home run to tie the game.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
Already depleted from wanting to get pitchers who were not going to be on the postseason roster in, the Yankees went into extra innings with struggling pitchers. During Tampa Bay's half of the 12th inning, Evan Longoria hit his second home run of the game, a walk-off home run that cleared a short wall near the left field foul pole to win the game for the Rays just minutes after the Orioles' victory over the Red Sox. The win clinched the American League Wild Card for the Rays.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, American League Wild Card race, New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays
Seat No. 10 in the first row behind the right-field foul pole has been painted white in honor of Dan Johnson's, game-tying, ninth-inning, pinch-hit blast during Game 162. They have also renamed the section beyond the left field foul pole "162 Landing" in honor of Longoria's game winning, 12th-inning home run.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, National League Wild Card race
The National League wild-card race came down to the fate of two games on the last day of the regular season.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, National League Wild Card race, St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 – 7:05 pm (CDT) at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, National League Wild Card race, St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros
The National League Central had been a two-way race late into the season with the Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers vying for contention. After the Reds had fallen off, the Brewers had clinched the division. The Cardinals battled back despite perennial all-star Albert Pujols serving on the disabled list and not having pitcher Adam Wainwright. Upon Pujols' return, the Cardinals came within one game by defeating the Astros under nine innings of dominant pitching by ace pitcher Chris Carpenter.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, National League Wild Card race, Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 – 7:10 pm (EDT) at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, National League Wild Card race, Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
The Philadelphia Phillies had clinched a playoff berth, the division title, and the best league record for weeks. For most of the season, the Atlanta Braves had been in 2nd place in the National League East by a good margin and well ahead in the wildcard standings. The Phillies had something to play for, a franchise record in wins.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Game 162, National League Wild Card race, Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
They battled back to force the game into extra innings where they won and in effect, not only eliminated the Braves from post-season contention, but also set that record with 102, surpassing the previous record of 101 set back-to-back in 1976 and 1977 during their run of three straight division championships from 1976 to 1978. Charlie Manuel also became the winningest manager in the history of the Phillies with 646 wins, surpassing Gene Mauch, the manager of the Phillies when they collapsed in a similar way the Braves did in 1964.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Postseason, Bracket
Note: Two teams in the same division could not meet in the division series.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Managerial changes, Field managers, Off-season
Four teams announced new managers for the 2011 season after the former manager retired from baseball.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Managerial changes, Field managers, Off-season
At the end of the 2010 season, three teams fired their managers and made replacements:


2011 Major League Baseball season, Managerial changes, Field managers, Off-season
The following managers who were interim managers for 2010 will lead their respective teams in 2011:


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Television
Two more teams joined the growing cable-exclusive telecast teams in 2011. Fox Sports Midwest produced and televised all St. Louis Cardinals games on the cable station, along with selected areas of the Cardinals' DMA outside St. Louis including Fox Sports Tennessee in Tennessee, Fox Sports Indiana in parts of Indiana, and SportsSouth in Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma. The 2010 season was their last season of splitting games with KSDK.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Television
The Minnesota Twins also joined the group, with Fox Sports North becoming their exclusive local home. The 2010 season was their last season of splitting games with WFTC.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Television
Atlanta Braves games that aired on WPCH-TV were be produced by and simulcast on Fox Sports South or SportSouth, marking the first season since 1972 which local Braves telecasts weren't be produced by Turner Sports.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Television
The national telecast breakdown is as follows, along with the maximum number of appearances per team:


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Television
In Canada, Toronto Blue Jays games were televised on Rogers Sportsnet, which also held the Canadian rights to air the Fox and ESPN/ESPN2 games if they did not conflict with Blue Jays' games, and additional regular season games on a regional basis on Rogers Sportsnet One as well as the All-Star Game and the entire postseason. TSN2 held rights to the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball telecasts.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Television
In Australia, it was free to air channel One HD and showed up to five games live per week, and European channel ESPN America broadcast games as well.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Television
For international viewers, MLB International broadcast the All-Star Game, the NLCS and the World Series.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Broadcasting, Radio
ESPN Radio served as MLB's national radio network, broadcasting Sunday Night Baseball as well as selected Saturday and holiday games during the regular season, the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, and all postseason series. ESPN Deportes Radio held the Spanish language rights to the Fall Classic.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Angels' 50th anniversary
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2011. Founded by Gene Autry in 1961, the team played at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field in their first season, then shared Dodger Stadium (called "Chavez Ravine" by Angels management) with the Dodgers before moving to Anaheim in 1966 and their own stadium, Anaheim Stadium (later to become Edison International Field of Anaheim and finally Angel Stadium of Anaheim). That year, the team name was altered to the California Angels.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Angels' 50th anniversary
After being purchased by The Walt Disney Company in 1997, the team name was changed to the Anaheim Angels and after Arte Moreno purchased the team, the name was changed to its current moniker to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005. For the season, in addition to the patch, the Angels changed the color of the halo from silver to gold on their uniforms, just as it looked from 1971 through 1996. In addition, on selected Friday night games, the team donned replicas of five of the six styles of uniforms they have worn, the most notable omission being that of the "Periwinkle Blue" era from 1997 to 2001, when Disney owned the team.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Stadiums
This was the Florida Marlins' final season at Sun Life Stadium, after 19 years, they moved to their new ballpark in downtown Miami, where they became the Miami Marlins.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Stadiums, Venue changes
Due to the U2 360° Tour concert scheduled June 29 at Sun Life Stadium and the needed time to set up the stage, the Marlins were forced to move their scheduled home games for June 24–26 against the Seattle Mariners to the Mariners' park at Safeco Field. As the Marlins were the home team, NL rules (no designated hitter) were applied. Mariners and Marlins did not meet again in Miami until 2014.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Team purchases
The Houston Astros were sold by Drayton McLane for US $680 million to a group led by Jim Crane, the founder of a transit logistics company.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Retired numbers
The Detroit Tigers retired Sparky Anderson's #11 on June 26.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Retired numbers
Bert Blyleven, elected to the Class of 2011 of the Baseball Hall of Fame, was honored with the retirement of his uniform #28 by the Twins on July 16.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Retired numbers
Roberto Alomar, also a 2011 Hall of Fame class member, became the first member of the Toronto Blue Jays to have his number (#12) retired on July 31.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Retired numbers
The Atlanta Braves retired Bobby Cox's #6 prior to their game against the Chicago Cubs on August 12.


2011 Major League Baseball season, Retired numbers
Trevor Hoffman, who had been the all-time saves leader until Mariano Rivera surpassed him on September 19, had his #51 retired by the San Diego Padres on August 21.


2011 Major League Lacrosse season
The 2011 Major League Lacrosse season was the 11th season of the league. The season began on May 14, 2011, and concluded with the championship game on August 28, 2011.


2011 Major League Lacrosse season, Milestones & events, Team movement
The Chicago Machine moved to Rochester, NY and reestablished the Rochester Rattlers franchise. Hamilton, ON became the new home of the Nationals, and the team reflected it with a name change to the Hamilton Nationals.


2011 Major League Lacrosse season, Milestones & events, Team movement
On December 9, 2010, Commissioner David Gross, announced that in February 2011, there would be two expansion teams created for the 2012 MLL Season. Also, there would be two more expansion teams for 2013. The long-term goal is to have 16 teams by 2019. There were nineteen sites identified as potential markets including Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.


2011 Major League Lacrosse season, Milestones & events, Team movement
Later on January 21, 2011, Commissioner David Gross announced that Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbus, Ohio, had been approved as expansion teams for the 2012 season. Gross also announced that with the adding of two more teams, (to bring the total to eight) the league will return to a fourteen-game season in 2012.


2011 Major League Lacrosse season, Standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning Percentage, GB = Games Back of first place, GF = Goals For, 2ptGF = 2 point Goals For, GA = Goals Against, 2ptGA = 2 point Goals Against


2011 Major League Lacrosse season, All Star Game
Team Warrior 21-20 Team Authority on July 9, 2011, at Harvard Stadium. Michael Kimmel (Team Warrior) was named MVP of the game.


2011 Major League Lacrosse season, Playoffs
The 2011 New Balance MLL Championship Weekend took place on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28 at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland during Hurricane Irene. Jordan Burke of Boston was the MVP of the MLL Championship.


2011 Major League Soccer season
The 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, whose cities previously had clubs of similar name play in the USSF D2 Pro League. Those two new West Coast clubs led to a realignment of the league's conferences, with Houston Dynamo moving to the Eastern Conference to create two conferences of nine teams each.


2011 Major League Soccer season
Each team played a balanced 34-match regular season schedule, playing every team twice (once at home and once away). The regular season began on March 15, when the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders FC 1–0 at Qwest Field, and concluded with the host Houston Dynamo defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 3–1 on October 23 at Robertson Stadium. The season also featured the 2011 MLS All-Star Game on July 27, when Manchester United defeated the MLS All-Stars 4–0 at Red Bull Arena (hosted by the New York Red Bulls). The 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs ran from October 26 until November 20, when the Los Angeles Galaxy claimed their third MLS championship by defeating Houston Dynamo 1–0 in MLS Cup 2011 at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Changes from 2010
A number of structural changes were made prior to this season, involving both on- and off-the field aspects of the league.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Changes from 2010, Structural changes
To accommodate the arrival of the two new franchises, the league expanded the number of regular season matches to 34 total games.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Changes from 2010, Structural changes
The MLS Cup Playoffs expanded from eight teams to ten. Beginning with this season, the best three teams from each conference receive guaranteed playoff spots; the four teams with the next best point totals will play one-match knockout games to determine the final participant for each conference. With the new playoff structure, comes a new incentive for the MLS Supporters Shield winner, who will play the lowest seeded team to qualify for the conference semifinals.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Changes from 2010, Structural changes
Furthermore, the MLS Reserve Division returned; the rosters accordingly expanded to 30 players. Other minor changes included the shortening of the MLS SuperDraft from four rounds, down to three, and the expansion of the number of guaranteed spots reserved for away supporters from 150 to 500.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Changes from 2010, Roster rule changes
Team rosters were expanded to 30 players in order to accommodate the re-introduction of the MLS Reserve Division. Of these 30 players, 18–20 count against a club's salary cap of $2,675,000. Clubs may still have a maximum of three Designated Players per club, each of whom counts $335,000 for salary cap purposes. The transfer windows for acquisition of players under contract in another country run from January 21 – April 15 and from July 15 – August 14.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Changes from 2010, Roster rule changes
Other key roster rule changes were the introduction of Off-Budget players who do not count against a club's salary cap; the ability of clubs to forgo fielding a full roster of 30 players for salary reasons; the introduction of roster slots paid below last year's league minimum; the ability of the two Canadian clubs to count U.S. domestic players as domestic players for roster purposes; and the ability of clubs to buy out one guaranteed player contract during the off-season and free up the corresponding budget space.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Teams
Two new expansion clubs entered the league: Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. These clubs, alluding to their history, are the immediate successors to clubs that played in the USSF D2 Pro League in 2010, and before that the USL First Division. Both clubs also bear the names of members of the original North American Soccer League.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Teams
Further, the Kansas City Wizards rebranded as Sporting Kansas City and moved into their new stadium at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Teams
Finally, with the arrival of two West Coast clubs, the Houston Dynamo transferred to the Eastern Conference.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Teams, Stadiums and locations
1Vancouver Whitecaps played home matches at Empire Field prior to moving into the newly renovated BC Place on October 2, 2011.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Teams, Personnel and sponsoring
Both of the new teams to MLS received jersey sponsors, while several existing teams saw changes in jersey sponsorships for the 2011 season.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Teams, Personnel and sponsoring
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold one or more non-FIFA nationalities.


2011 Major League Soccer season, League standings, Overall table
(SS) = Supporters Shield winner; (E1) = Eastern Conference champion; (W1) = Western Conference champion


2011 Major League Soccer season, League standings, Conference standings, Western Conference
(SS) = Supporters Shield winner; (W1) = Western Conference champion


2011 Major League Soccer season, League standings, Tiebreakers
If more than two clubs are tied, once a club advances through any step, the process reverts to Tiebreaker 1 among the remaining tied clubs recursively until all ties are resolved.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Results
For the second year in a row, the league uses a balanced schedule. Each team will play every other team twice, home and away, for a total of 34 games.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Playoff bracket
Note: The LA Galaxy, as MLS Supporters Shield winners, were assured of playing the lower seeded Wild Card series winner (New York Red Bulls) in the Conference Semifinals, while Sporting Kansas City would play the higher seeded Wild Card series winner (Colorado Rapids).


2011 Major League Soccer season, Transfers
Major League Soccer employs no fewer than 12 methods to acquire players. These include: signing players on transfers/free transfers as is done in most of the world; via trades; drafting players through mechanisms such as the MLS SuperDraft, MLS Supplemental Draft, or MLS Re-Entry Draft; rarely used methods which cover extreme hardship and injury replacement; signing players as Designated Players or Homegrown Players; placing a discovery claim on players; waivers; and methods peculiar to MLS such as through allocation or a weighted lottery.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Transfers, Allocation ranking
The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day. The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2010 season, taking playoff performance into account.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Transfers, Allocation ranking
Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking. At all times, each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS League season.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Transfers, Allocation ranking
¤ Davies was signed by United on a twelve-month loan deal. ¤¤ Chicago originally had the No. 9 ranking but traded it to Seattle on August 26, 2011.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Transfers, Allocation ranking
The remaining order after Sporting Kansas City is: Chicago Fire¤¤, Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas, and Colorado Rapids. In the unlikely event that all clubs use an allocation, the order begins anew with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Transfers, Weighted lottery
Some players are assigned to MLS teams via a weighted lottery process. A team can only acquire one player per year through a weighted lottery. The players made available through lotteries include: (i) Generation adidas players signed after the MLS SuperDraft; and (ii) Draft eligible players to whom an MLS contract was offered but who failed to sign with the League prior to the SuperDraft.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Transfers, Weighted lottery
The team with the worst record over its last 30 regular season games (dating back to previous season if necessary and taking playoff performance into account) will have the greatest probability of winning the lottery. Teams are not required to participate in a lottery. Players are assigned via the lottery system in order to prevent a player from potentially influencing his destination club with a strategic holdout.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, International competitions, CONCACAF Champions League
Prior to the start of the MLS regular season, Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake played against each other in the quarterfinals of 2010–11 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League. The first leg, contested at Crew Stadium on February 22, 2011; ended in a scoreless draw between the sides. On March 1, 2011; the second leg at Rio Tinto Stadium was played, where Real Salt Lake won the series against the Crew 4–1 in the game and on aggregate, this ending Columbus' Champions League campaign.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, International competitions, CONCACAF Champions League
As a result, Salt Lake became the first MLS team to advance into the semifinals of the Champions League under its current format. The team won its home fixture against Saprissa of Costa Rica 2–0 on March 15, 2011. Real Salt Lake lost the away fixture 2–1 on April 5, 2011, but advanced 3–2 on aggregate. They faced Monterrey of Mexico in the first leg of the final on April 20 in Monterrey. The game concluded in a 2–2 draw. The second leg was played at Rio Tinto on April 27, 2011. Monterrey won 1–0 (3–2 on aggregate) with a late goal in the first half.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, International competitions, CONCACAF Champions League
Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Galaxy have qualified directly into Group Stage for the 2011–12 edition of the Champions League by being the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield winners, respectively. Both Seattle Sounders FC and FC Dallas have earned preliminary entries in the tournament by winning the U.S. Open Cup and finishing runner up in the MLS Cup, respectively. Toronto FC secured the Canadian berth in the preliminary round with their Voyageurs Cup victory on July 2.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, International competitions, World Football Challenge
On March 29, 2011 MLS Commissioner Don Garber confirmed that the 2011 edition of the North American SuperLiga would be replaced by the World Football Challenge, a friendly tournament which started play on July 14 and will end on August 6.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, International competitions, World Football Challenge
The following MLS sides entered the tournament based on invitation: Los Angeles Galaxy, Philadelphia Union, New England Revolution, Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, Domestic competitions, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The MLS clubs that finished first through sixth place overall during last year's regular season earned a direct bye to the third round proper of the U.S. Open Cup. Clubs that finished seventh or lower will have to play for the final two spots in a series of play-in propers, based on their geographic location as well as their final regular season position.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, Domestic competitions, Canadian championship
The two Canadian-based MLS clubs, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC participated in the Canadian Championship, Canada's domestic soccer cup. They competed against two other professional Canadian soccer teams from the NASL for the Voyageurs Cup, as well as a Preliminary Round berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament is organized in a knockout format with two-legged ties in both the semifinals and final, with the away goals rule in place.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, Domestic competitions, Canadian championship
The two began in the semifinal round, where the Whitecaps defeated the Montreal Impact and Toronto defeated FC Edmonton. The first leg of the final, held in Vancouver on May 18, ended in a 1–1 draw. The second leg, on May 25 in Toronto, was abandoned due to torrential rains with the Whitecaps leading 1–0. Under competition rules, the second leg was to be replayed in its entirety the following day, but the field remained unplayable. The second leg was replayed, again in its entirety, on July 2, with Toronto winning the game 2–1 and the championship 3–2 on aggregate.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, League competitions, MLS Cup
Following the 2011 season, ten MLS clubs will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs postseason tournament. Of the ten clubs, six will be automatic qualifiers from the top three clubs in each conference. These automatic qualifiers earn a bye to the conference semifinal, or quarterfinal round proper. Four more qualifiers will enter in a play-in round, where these for clubs will be determined by their final regular season standing, regardless of their conference. The winners of the play-in games will play in the conference semifinals, where the lowest seeded club will play against the Supporters' Shield winners.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, League competitions, MLS Cup
The cup final will be held on a neutral venue.


2011 Major League Soccer season, Related competitions, League competitions, Cups and Rivalries
This season marks the first time that the Cascadia Cup will be contested in Major League Soccer. Seattle, Portland and Vancouver contested this cup from 2004–08 until Seattle joined Major League Soccer. The competition continued between Portland and Vancouver for the next two years.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation
The 2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation is a section of the Local Courts bill submitted to the parliament of Malawi in February 2011 that bans fouling the air. When the Minister of Justice claimed that the bill made flatulence in public illegal, the story made headlines around the world. Later, the minister retracted his statement.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, History
The Local Courts Bill was first introduced in Nyasaland (colonial Malawi) in 1929 under Penal Code Act 22 of the colonial government. It was meant to redefine which types of cases local courts could oversee. The stipulated violations covered under this bill would be under the jurisdiction of local Chiefs. The actual provision against air fouling that was included in the new Penal Code Act 198 was carried over from the Nyasaland laws. This opened up a criticism in Malawi about the government's policy of carrying over antiquated colonial laws and clarification of laws.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Legislation
The relevant clause in the bill reads: "Any person who vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the public to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way shall be guilty of a misdemeanour".


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Legislation, Additional clauses
The bill would also punish "any person disturbing religious assemblies, trespassing on burial places," or "insulting the modesty of a woman", as well as citizens who hinder the burial of dead bodies and people who pretend to be fortune tellers. It also includes making it illegal to challenge someone to fight a duel.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Interpretation
Journalists at the briefing argued that the way the bill was written, it could be interpreted as including a ban on flatulence. The hypothetical example is what was then published in Malawian papers by some Malawian journalists to gain attention for the story about the bill. The sensational story on the ban of flatulence became popular within the country due to its humorous and impractical nature.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Interpretation
Even though flatulence was not the target of the bill, when responding to a journalist who inquired about the ban on flatulence in January 2011 on Capital Radio Malawi's popular Straight Talk program, George Chaponda, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, agreed that the legislation can essentially be interpreted as a banning farting in public places and makes it an official criminal offence. This helped to confirm that news that the ban in fact, did target flatulence.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Interpretation, Minister of Justice's interpretation
Minister of Justice George Chaponda, a Yale law school graduate, insisted that technically the law included flatulence after it was widely reported in the media. In the radio interview on Capital FM, he went further by taking the opportunity to address what he felt really was a social problem in matters of social etiquette concerning flatulence in Malawi society.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Interpretation, Minister of Justice's interpretation
He said, "Would you be happy to see people farting anyhow? ... Just go to the toilet when you feel like farting". Chaponda said that people had felt free to fart anywhere since Malawi embraced multi-party politics 16 years earlier. He said, "It was not there during the time of dictatorship because people were afraid of the consequences. Now because of multipartism or freedom, people would like to fart anywhere". He added "Nature can be controlled... it becomes a nuisance if people fart anywhere".


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Interpretation, Minister of Justice's interpretation
He added that the enforcement of such a law would be similar to laws banning urinating in public and would be treated as a minor offence.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Interpretation, Solicitor General's interpretation
Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga argued that the bill was not intended to include farting but instead, "fouling the air" was a reference to air pollution. He said fouling of the air can be done by burning tyres, rubbish and old computers or smoking, and thus spoiling the atmosphere of the neighbourhood. Kamanga said "How any reasonable or sensible person can construe the provision to criminalizing farting in public is beyond me".


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Reaction
When Reuters distributed the story, saying "farting in public will no longer be just rude and discourteous to others, it will now be a crime", it was quickly picked up by the foreign press.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Reaction, British media
The British tabloids in particular had a field day. The Daily Mirror had the headline "Breaking wind is to become a crime in Malawi" and added "and it is already causing a stink". The Daily Express headline was "Law that put the wind up for you… Malawi bans flatulence". The Register added a sub-headline: "Clampdown on undisciplined bowels".


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Reaction, Chaponda's retraction
On 4 February 2011, the BBC reported that the Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga had contradicted Chaponda, saying the legislation referred to other forms of pollution. Reporting the controversy, The Register's story was headed "Big stink over Malawi farting ban: Solicitor general challenges trouser cough clampdown".


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Reaction, Chaponda's retraction
Later, Chaponda retracted his remarks, saying he had not read the proposed bill before commenting. The head of Capital Radio, which had aired the interview, signed an agreement with the government on 14 February 2011 in which the media committed to refrain from reporting stories that would destroy the image and credibility of the country. Chaponda also notes that the media misunderstood him and the laws. He noted that the reporting of this bill was a reflection of media trying to discredit the Bingu wa Mutharika government.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Political fallout with media
The farting legislation led to further tension between the Malawian press and the Bingu wa Mutharika administration. Relations between the press and the Mutharika administration were strained due to the passage of a publications law that restricted press coverage. The press saw it as a part of on-going attempts by the Mutharika administration to crack down on press and limit democracy during his second term in office. The government saw the reporting as a direct attempt by the Malawian media to discredit and embarrass the Bingu wa Mutharika administration.


2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation, Political fallout with media, Media government agreement
A few weeks after the story made international headlines, the Malawi government Minister of Information and Civic Education, Simon Vuwa Kaunda signed an agreement with the local press with regards to reporting about the Bingu wa Mutharika administration and the country. The intent of the agreement was to create greater communication between the press and the government. The request that journalists refrain from reporting stories that destroy Malawi's image and credibility both domestically and internationally without seeking clarification from the government. It led the way to government and press in Malawi meeting at regular intervals to be briefed on national affairs. However, continuing suppression of the media by the administration was one of the causes of the 2011 Malawi Protests.


2011 Malawian protests
The 2011 Malawi protests were protests aimed at winning political and economic reforms or concessions from the government of Malawi. On 20 July, Malawian organisations protested against perceived poor economic management and poor governance by President Bingu wa Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party. After the first two days of protests, 18 deaths, 98 serious injuries and 275 arrests had been reported. Further demonstrations were organised on 17 August and 21 September The first protest was later cancelled due to the intervention of a UN representative in initiating a dialogue; however, the talks broke down with more protests planned for Red Wednesday through a national vigil.


2011 Malawian protests, Causes
The protesters' grievances were highlighted in a 15-page petition which included a list of 20 demands:


2011 Malawian protests, Protests
After several weeks of protests, on 19 July, the government issued an order banning civil society organisations from protesting. A day before the protest, the government set out to intimidate potential protestors. Two vehicles belonging to the independent private radio station Zodiak Radio were set alight by masked men. In the commercial capital Blantyre, five official DPP vehicles carrying DPP Youth Cadets (a youth wing of the DPP) were seen driving around the city waving machetes. The government obtained an injunction to stop the protests.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20 July
A coalition of 80 Civil societies and NGOs, religious and student groups (collectively known as 'Concerned Citizens') chose 20 July 2011 as a day of national protest against economic and administrative management. Prominent civil and human rights organisations like the umbrella NGO Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) and the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) were both a part of the Concerned Citizens group and played a central role in planning the protest. It also included the Malawi Law Society and the Council of Churches.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20 July
Mutharika then scheduled a public lecture for the same day to which he invited all citizens, NGO's and civil societies upon registration. The Concerned Citizens largely said that they would not attend a 'lecture' by the president because they wanted dialogue and their concerns to be addressed. Pro -government supporters then scheduled a pro-government protest on the same day, 20 July. On the morning of 20 July 2011, mass anti-government protests began in the major cities of Mzuzu, Blantyre, and the capital Lilongwe. Protests also occurred in Zomba, Kasungu, and Ntchesi.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20 July
The Concerned Citizens were wearing red shirts and other articles of clothing and called themselves the "Red Army for Democracy and Peace." The protests began peacefully with participants singing the national anthem, taking photos, holding signs and giving speeches. Many were waving the old Malawi flag the public display of which had been banned by the Mutharika government.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20 July
The government response to these protests included preemptive arrests of civil society leaders. Police assaulted MCP spokesperson Nancy Tembo, Joyce Banda's sister Anjimile Oponyo, The Nation journalist Kondwani Munthali and the head of the HRCC Undule Mwakasungula. There was a clamp down by police on anyone wearing red clothes which was particularly violent in Mzuzu. Police forces began to disrupt broadcasts by radio stations, and ordered journalists not to report on the protests. Anti -government citizens clashed with security forces in the northern cities of Mzuzu and Karonga and Blantyre.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20 July
After the national lecture by President Mutharika, which failed to address the grievances of the protesters, tensions grew further and looting of targeted business and properties began. Business properties of political allies of the president were targeted, along with the homes of two police officers in the north that had participated in the clampdown of protesters with excessive force. The violence continued to grow largely in the major cities.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 21 July
Although the protests were only planned for 20 July, they continued the next day because of the manner in which the government responded to the protests. The government did not acknowledge that there was discontent in the country and clamped down on journalists, radio stations, citizens and protesters wearing red. On 21 July the army was sent in to reinforce riot police already present in Mzuzu, Blantyre, Ntchesi, and in the capital Lilongwe. At least two people were killed amid widespread looting in the suburbs of Lilongwe as Mutharika vowed to "use any measure I can think of" to quell the unrest.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 22 July
The director of the Church and Society rights organisation, Moses Mkandawire, said that the government had blocked funeral processions for seven of those killed in the previous two days' protests. "We have been stopped by the government with our arrangements to bury the seven heroes. The government says it will provide transport to have the seven buried in their respective [village] homes." Al Jazeera reported that many of these protest leaders had received death threats and gone into hiding for fear of arrest or worse.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 23 July
Vice President Joyce Banda, one of the opposition leaders Mutharika accused of inciting unrest, publicly endorsed the protests against Mutharika's government and stated "regret" for deaths, injuries, and property damage incurred during the demonstrations. Banda, thought to be entertaining a run for the presidency in 2014, suggested poor economic conditions, corruption, and weak democratic institutions had forced Malawians to take to the streets.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 23 July
She said she had appealed to Mutharika to hold a dialogue with the United Kingdom, the former colonial power of Malawi with which the Mutharika administration had recently become embroiled in a diplomatic row, over the Cochrane-Dyet cable in the hopes of forging an agreement to provide Malawi with economic relief.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 26 July
Rafiq Hajat, the director of the Institute for Policy Interaction warned Mutharika that if he did not address protesters' demands by 16 August, demonstrations would resume on 17 August with the goal of ending his regime. The Public Affairs Committee, a group composed of both Christian and Muslim activists, also warned that "should [the] government continue to harass people for no proper reasons, another demonstration will be inevitable. Bullets and tear gas have never triumphed over the will of the people."


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 17 August
The Concerned Citizens of Malawi staged another protest on 17 August in the form of a national vigil for the victims of the 20 July protest. The vigil was, however, cancelled a day before the protests due to the intervention of the United Nations who engaged civil society groups and the government in dialogue. The dialogue later broke down because of what the civil society groups said was continued intimidation being faced outside the meeting.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 17 August
A string of arson cases were also reported, including fires at the offices of Rafiq Hajat and the home of Reverend MacDonald Sembereka. wa Mutharika was accused of being behind the arsons, particularity since he threatened protest leaders by saying he would "smoke you out." He later denied being behind the arsons. No one has been arrested or found guilty of partaking in the arson cases, but the government has condemned them.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20–21 September – Red Wednesday
The two primary markets in Blantyre and Lilongwe were also burned down on 20 September a day before the Red Wednesday protests on 21 September.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20–21 September – Red Wednesday
On 21 September a national stay-at-home was organised with the aim of shutting down the economy via a general strike on what the organisers called "Red Wednesday." Businesses and banks across the country were closed; at the same time there was also a heavy police presence and protestors clad in red. People were also urged by the organisers to hold vigils at home to commemorate the deaths of Malawians killed during the protests in July.


2011 Malawian protests, Protests, 20–21 September – Red Wednesday
The protest was held on Wednesday to mark the day of the 19 people during the July protests; it also marks the beginning of a planned for three-day stay-at-home strike. Bingu wa Mutharika called for an end to the strike on the state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation warning that "You can’t bully me into submission. [ The] government can’t be taken to ransom by a few disgruntled individuals hiding in the name of civil society. If you stop people from going to work, I will deal with you." He added that the strikes were illegal, while telling people to return to work the next day.


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses
Following the violence, Mutharika called on the people of Malawi to "stop the rioting and let's sit down to discuss. I have a responsibility, based on the powers vested in me by the constitution to bring law and order." After accusing the protesters of being "led by Satan," he then blamed his former deputy Joyce Banda and opposition leaders John Tembo, as well as other civil society leaders of being responsible for the violent protests. "The blood of these people who have died is on you. Let their spirits haunt you at night. This time I'll go after you!


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses
Even if you hide in holes I'll smoke you out!" He also said that those organising the protests should face the "consequences." His rhetoric saying to protesters saying that he would "smoke you out" was in reference to former United States President George W. Bush, who used the same words for Osama bin Laden.


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses
First Lady Callista Mutharika publicly castigated the NGO's that organised the protests for allegedly being paid by Western donors to "disturb the peace" and promote homosexuality, stating that they would "go to hell." She further said that villagers should not have an interest in the protest over fuel and foreign exchange since they do not drive cars and because they don't engage in cross border trade. She urged village chiefs and the rural population at-large not to protest. Her response was received with much criticism from civil society.


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses, Cabinet and army reshuffle
On 19 August, state-owned radio reported that Mutharika sacked his entire cabinet without announcing a reason for the move. Analysts speculated that it was related to the protests and the freeze in aid from the United Kingdom triggered by the government's response. He reappointed a new trimmed down cabinet on 7 September.


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses, Cabinet and army reshuffle
However, it still included controversial posts such as his wife Callista Mutharika as a cabinet member, his brother Peter Mutharika as Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Ken Lipenga as Minister of Finance, while excluding former Vice President Joyce Banda, wa Mutharika has repeatedly referred to the cabinet as a "war cabinet" charged with defending the "integrity of nation."


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses, Cabinet and army reshuffle
Mutharika hastened the retirement of the head of the army, General Marko Chiziko and appointed a new army chief after the protests. Chiziko's replacement is General Henry Odillo.


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses, Zimbabwean mercenaries
Mutharika was accused of hiring mercenaries from Zimbabwe to patrol the streets and suppress protestors in preparation for the second protest which was to take place in the form of a national vigil. They were hired after consultations by wa Mutharika with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe after it became clear that the Malawian army would not shoot at Malawians during the planned protests due to discontent in the army. The Zimbabwean personnel were stationed in Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Blantayre, and Zomba.


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses, 2014 presidential election
In spite of the nationwide protest against the Mutharika regime, in early August 2011 the DPP National Governing Council (NGC) endorsed Peter Mutharika, the presidents brother, as a presidential candidate for the 2014 presidential election. He is currently the Minister of Education, Science and Technology. This early announcement came a few days after the protests. His appointment decision was made by President Bingu wa Mutharika and endorsed by the council without a party convention.


2011 Malawian protests, Domestic responses, 2014 presidential election
DPP Secretary General Wakuda Kamanga stated that they are optimistic that the country will elect another Mutharika in spite of the protests because the "anger would phase out." The party also sacked other leaders that had been against the promotion of the Peter Mutharika as a candidate, including first vice-president Joyce Banda and second vice-president Khumbo Kachale.


2011 Malaysia Cup
The 2011 Malaysia Cup (Malay: Piala Malaysia 2011) was the 85th edition of the Malaysia Cup. The soccer competition began on 6 September 2011 and concluded on 29 October 2011 with the final held at Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam. A total of 16 teams took part in the competition. The teams were divided into 4 groups of 4 teams, with the group leaders and runners-up after 6 matches qualifying through to the quarterfinals.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Format
In this competition, the top 12 teams from Malaysian Super League joined the four teams from Malaysian Premier League. The teams were drawn into four groups of four teams, at the Stadium Bukit Jalil on 5 August 2011.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Format
Due to the withdrawal of Harimau Muda A, the second bottom team in the 2011 Malaysian Super League and the 5th placed team in the 2011 Malaysia Premier League will compete with each other to take Harimau Muda A spot in the 2011 Malaysia Cup.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Format
Pahang FA and Sime Darby FC will play a two legged match to take a place in the 2011 Malaysia Cup replacing Harimau Muda A


2011 Malaysia Cup, Format
The matches will take place from 6 September 2011 to 29 October 2011. The top two teams in each group will progress to the quarter finals.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Play Off
In the 2011 Malaysia Cup Play off, Pahang FA and Sime Darby FC will play a two legged match to take a place in the 2011 Malaysia Cup replacing Harimau Muda A.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Play Off
Sime Darby FC won 6–0 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Seeding
The 16 teams were divided into four pots for the draw, each containing four teams. The standings in Super League and Premier League 2011 ended on 9 June 2011 – was used to seed the teams.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Seeding
Sabah FA Felda United FC Kuala Lumpur FA PKNS FC


2011 Malaysia Cup, Knockout stage, Quarterfinals, Second leg
Selangor FA won 4–1 on aggregate and advanced to the Semi Finals against Terengganu FA.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Knockout stage, Quarterfinals, Second leg
Negeri Sembilan FA won 3–1 on aggregate after extra time and advanced to the Semi Finals against PBDKT T-Team FC.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Knockout stage, Quarterfinals, Second leg
Terengganu FA won 5–3 on aggregate and advanced to the Semi Finals against Selangor FA.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Knockout stage, Quarterfinals, Second leg
PBDKT T-Team FC won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the Semi Finals against Negeri Sembilan FA.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Knockout stage, Semi-finals, Second leg
Terengganu FA won 4–1 on aggregate and advanced to the Finals against Negeri Sembilan FA.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Knockout stage, Semi-finals, Second leg
Negeri Sembilan FA won 6–3 on aggregate and advanced to the Finals against Terengganu FA.


2011 Malaysia Cup, Final
The final was played at the Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor, on Saturday, 29 October 2011. The original venue was the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, but the Football Association of Malaysia were forced to change the venue because the national stadium were undergoing repairs on the stadium's roof.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup
The 2011 Malaysia FA Cup, also known as the Astro Piala FA due to the competition's sponsorship by Astro Arena, was the 22nd season of the Malaysia FA Cup, a knockout competition for Malaysia's state football association and clubs.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup
The cup winner were guaranteed a place in the 2012 AFC Cup.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup, Format
The Piala FA competition has reverted to the old format of play with no more open draws. It will be involve 30 teams — 16 Super League and 14 Premier League sides — with defending league champions Selangor FA, defending cup winners Negeri Sembilan FA and runner's up Kedah FA receiving byes in the first round.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup, Format
For the 2011 year edition, In the first round and the second league will only play one legged match instead playing a two legged match unlike the previous edition.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup, Format
The winner of the 2011 edition will qualify to the 2012 AFC Cup.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup, Piala FA Matches, Quarter-Finals
The first leg matches will be played on 9 March 2010, with the second legs to be held on 20 March 2010.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup, Piala FA Matches, Semi-Finals
The first leg matches will be played on 30 March 2010, with the second legs to be held on 3 April 2010.


2011 Malaysia FA Cup, Piala FA Matches, Final
The final was played at National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday, 11 June 2011.


2011 Malaysia FAM League
2011 FAM League is the 59th edition season of current third-tier league competition in Malaysia.


2011 Malaysia FAM League, Teams
The following teams participated in the 2011 Malaysia FAM League. In order by the number given by FAM:-


2011 Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold
The 2011 Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold was the fifth Grand Prix's badminton tournament of the 2011 BWF Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix. The tournament was held in Alor Setar, Malaysia on 3–8 May 2011 and had a total purse of $120,000. The tournament has moved from Johor Bahru, where its first two editions had been held.


2011 Malaysia Premier League
The 2011 Liga Premier (English: 2011 Premier League) is the eighth season of the Liga Premier, the second-tier professional football league in Malaysia.


2011 Malaysia Premier League
The season was held from 31 January and concluded in 29 July 2011.


2011 Malaysia Premier League
PKNS clinched the 2011 Liga Premier title on 20 May 2011, and first promotion spot to Liga Super, with a 2-0 win over Johor. The win gave them a 12-point unassailable lead over their nearest challenger, Sarawak with 3 games remaining. Sarawak themselves secured the second promotion spot after the 4-1 win over USM on 23 May 2011, gaining an 8-point unassailable difference over nearest rivals Sime Darby with 2 games remaining.


2011 Malaysia Premier League
At the other end of the table, 2 Penang teams SDMS Kepala Batas and Penang confirms their status as two last-placed teams in Liga Premier, which relegates them to 2012 Liga FAM competition, subject to confirmation from FAM.


2011 Malaysia Premier League
The Liga Premier champions for 2011 season was PKNS. The champions and runners-up were both promoted to 2012 Liga Super.


2011 Malaysia Premier League, Teams
A total of twelve teams will contest the league, including eight sides from the 2010 Liga Premier season, two newly promoted teams from 2010 Liga FAM and two relegated teams from the 2010 Liga Super season.


2011 Malaysia Premier League, Teams
Malacca and Shahzan Muda were relegated from 2010 Liga Premier after finishing the season in the bottom two places of the league table.


2011 Malaysia Premier League, Teams
2010 Liga FAM champions Sime Darby and runners-up SDMS Kepala Batas secured direct promotion to the Liga Premier.


2011 Malaysia Premier League, Teams, Team summaries, Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011 Malaysia Premier League, Teams, Team summaries, Personnel and kits
Nike has produced a new match ball, named the T90 Tracer, which will be electric blue, black and white and also a high-visibility version in yellow. Additionally, Lotto will provide officials with new kits in black, yellow, and red for the season.


2011 Malaysia Super League
The 2011 Liga Super Malaysia (English: 2011 Malaysia Super League) is the eighth season of the Malaysia Super League, the top-tier professional football league in Malaysia. The season was held from 29 January and concluded on 30 July 2011. Selangor is the current defending champions.


2011 Malaysia Super League, Teams
A total of fourteen teams will contest the league, including twelve sides from the 2010 season and two promoted teams from the 2010 Malaysia Premier League. Johor and Penang were relegated at the end of last season league after finishing the season in the bottom two places of the league table. 2010 Malaysia Premier League champions Felda United and runners-up Sabah secured direct promotion to the Malaysia Super League.


2011 Malaysia Super League, Teams
Harimau Muda A secured a place in the Malaysia Super League after PLUS withdrew. Harimau had won the 2009 Malaysia Premier League before playing the 2010 campaign in the Slovak First League. Harimau represent the Malaysian Under 23 national football team.


2011 Malaysia Super Series
The 2011 Malaysia Super Series was the first tournament of the 2011 BWF Super Series in badminton. It was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 18 to 23 January 2011.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix
The 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix (formally the 2011 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 10 April 2011 at the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor, Malaysia. It was the second round of the 2011 Formula One season. The 56-lap race was won by Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel after starting from pole position. Jenson Button finished second in a McLaren, and Nick Heidfeld completed the podium for Renault, in third place.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix
As a consequence of the race, Vettel extended his lead in the World Drivers' Championship to 24 points over Button. Button's McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, who finished eighth in Malaysia, fell 4 points behind Button in third, tied on points with Mark Webber who finished fourth in the race. In the World Constructors' Championship, Red Bull's 37-point haul from the weekend allowed them to extend the championship lead over McLaren to 24 points, with Ferrari a further 12 points behind in third position.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
After failing to qualify in Melbourne when they were forced to use the front wing from their 2010 car, Hispania Racing arrived at the circuit confident of being able to qualify for the race because their 2011 specification front wing satisfactorily completed its mandatory crash tests.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Several teams made driver changes for the first practice session. Nico Hülkenberg once again substituted for Paul di Resta at Force India, whilst Daniel Ricciardo drove in the place of Sébastien Buemi at Scuderia Toro Rosso, having previously driven in the place of Jaime Alguersuari in Melbourne. GP2 driver Davide Valsecchi also took part, replacing Heikki Kovalainen at Lotus.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Tyre supplier Pirelli brought its silver-banded hard compound tyre as the harder "prime" tyre and the yellow-banded soft compound as the softer "option" compound. This was the same tyre selection that Bridgestone had chosen to bring to the Malaysian Grand Prix for the past two years.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The high temperatures in Malaysia and the abrasive surface of the Sepang circuit led to tyre supplier Pirelli making predictions of high wear rates throughout qualifying and the race to the extent that pit stop strategy would be the deciding factor in the outcome. The tyre manufacturer also supplied an experimental harder compound of rubber for use during free practice with a view to introducing the tyre for the Turkish Grand Prix, but rejected it following feedback from the teams.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Shortly after qualifying, the FIA moved the pole position slot from the left- to the right-hand side of the circuit. The pole slot had traditionally been on the left-hand side of the circuit because it offered the optimal racing line into the tight first corner, but was moved because of the build-up of marbles from the Pirelli tyres off the racing line, which runs over the right-hand side of the circuit.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Before the race, winner of race one in Melbourne - Sebastian Vettel - led the Drivers' Championship with the 25 points he gained for winning the only race thus far in 2011. The rest of the standings were as the drivers had finished at that race - Lewis Hamilton on 18, Vitaly Petrov on 15 etc.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Background
In the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull Racing lead with 35 points, McLaren were second with 26 (9 points behind), and Ferrari were a further 8 behind McLaren on 18 points. Renault were in fourth, just behind on 15 points. Toro Rosso on 4, and Force India on 3, completed the points scoring teams.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
The first practice session was run in humid but dry conditions, despite forecasts of heavy rain. Mark Webber was the fastest driver in the first session, over a second and a half faster than Lewis Hamilton and two seconds faster than Michael Schumacher. In the second Red Bull Racing car, Sebastian Vettel finished seventeenth overall, four seconds off Webber's pace; however, with comments from team principal Christian Horner in the build-up to the event suggesting that the unraced KERS device would be essential, Vettel's program was focused on developing the KERS unit rather than outright pace. Overall lap times were considerably slower at the circuit than in 2010, with Webber's fastest time over two and a half seconds slower than Lewis Hamilton's time in the same session a year previously.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
The session was scattered with incidents; Virgin driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio suffered a mechanical fault that caused his right-front suspension to fail. The team were unable to repair the problem in time for the second practice session. Further down the pit lane, Renault experienced two similar problems, first with Nick Heidfeld, whose front-right tyre locked in place, and he was able to limp back to the garage. Vitaly Petrov was sidelined with a mechanical failure for most of the first session, and spun off at turn 9 when he experienced a similar problem to Heidfeld. Both Renaults spent most of the second session in the pits while the team investigated the problems, which was discovered to have come from a material fault in the suspension uprights, but they were limited to just a handful of laps overall.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
Webber once again topped the second practice session, but his margin to Jenson Button was just five thousandths of a second. Pastor Maldonado set the fastest time early in the session, but damaged his Williams when he spun into a wall in the pit lane entry and slipped down the order. Vitantonio Liuzzi also encountered trouble, stopping on the circuit after bouncing over a kerb, but he was able to get his car going once more. The Hispania's new front wing worked as expected, with Liuzzi able to set times within 107% of the leader's benchmark in both practice sessions.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
Hamilton came first in the final practice session, ahead of Webber and Button. The session was free of incidents, aside from several spins by Paul di Resta, while Liuzzi was held up in the pits for most of the session with a mechanical fault and only took to the circuit in the last fifteen minutes.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The qualifying session was closely fought among the Red Bull and McLaren drivers, with the difference between pole and second place just one tenth of a second, as opposed to the eight tenths seen in Melbourne.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The first session was interrupted when Sébastien Buemi's Toro Rosso shed part of its sidepod while Buemi was on a flying lap. There was no internal damage to the car, and Buemi was able to return to the pits with the internal workings of the car showing. The session was red-flagged for several minutes while marshalls retrieved the bodywork. Buemi's car was inspected by the FIA and cleared to return to the circuit, though the exact cause of the problem remained unknown.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Because of the incident involving Buemi, several teams were forced to abort flying laps, including the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, who had been in the process of setting flying laps on the hard compound tyres. When the session restarted, the team were forced to sacrifice one set of soft tyres for both cars. By the end of the session, both Lotuses were eliminated, a clear two seconds faster than the Virgins of Glock and d'Ambrosio. Both Hispanias were also eliminated, but comfortably made the grid as Narain Karthikeyan in twenty-fourth position was a second inside the 107% margin. Pastor Maldonado was also eliminated, qualifying in eighteenth place.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The second qualifying period saw Jenson Button top the timing sheets, the first person to set a lap time under 1:36.000 all weekend. Several teams, most notably Renault elected to do just one run late in the session, with both Petrov and Heidfeld easily advancing to the third and final session. A late lap from Kamui Kobayashi saw him qualify for the final session at the expense of Michael Schumacher, who was demoted to eleventh place for the second race in a row. Buemi recovered from his earlier scare to qualify twelfth, with teammate Jaime Alguersuari in thirteenth. Paul di Resta out-qualified Adrian Sutil by placing fourteenth, followed by Rubens Barrichello and Sergio Pérez in the second Williams and Sauber respectively, with Sutil finishing seventeenth overall.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The third period began with the remaining ten drivers divided into two distinct groups: the Red Bull and McLaren drivers, who all set two flying laps, and everyone else, only going out once, many with the hope of saving an extra set of tyres for the race. Lewis Hamilton set the early benchmark with a time of exactly 1:35.000, followed by the Red Bulls and Jenson Button. Fernando Alonso was the next driver to set a time, but he was over half a second off Hamilton's pace.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The top four drivers emerged again to set their final times, with each driver getting progressively faster. Jenson Button improved on his initial time, but remained fourth. Mark Webber bested him, but was still two tenths of a second off Hamilton's time. Hamilton himself improved in kind, and looked as if he had secured pole position before Sebastian Vettel crossed the line, a tenth of a second faster than Hamilton. With Vettel first and Hamilton second, followed by Webber, Button and Alonso, the top five drivers lined up in the same order as they did in Melbourne. Nick Heidfeld qualified in sixth place for Renault, followed by Massa in the second Ferrari and teammate Petrov in the second Renault in eighth. Nico Rosberg and Kamui Kobayashi completed the top ten.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
In what would be a dominant race for the 2010 World Champion, Vettel made a clean break from the lights and quickly began developing a strong lead from the rest of the pack. The other big winner was Nick Heidfeld, who was able to move from sixth to second at the start. By lap 9 Vettel had built a 5.2 second lead over his fellow German, and was able to comfortably bring his car home in first in spite of KERS problems that plagued the second half of his race. while Pastor Maldonado retired with a misfire.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Barrichello was the next retirement with a gearbox problem, which they later traced to the hydraulics. On lap 24, the Sauber of Sergio Pérez was struck by a piece of debris, possibly from an unidentified car. The debris damaged the front wing and floor of the Sauber before passing through both the chassis and the protective Zylon panel, and hitting the ECU. The ECU was rendered inactive, stopping the car. The debris then passed out of the car by smashing through the sidepod. Jarno Trulli slid across the gravel before retiring with a clutch failure on lap 31.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
The Hispanias of Karthikeyan and Liuzzi were withdrawn by the team for "safety reasons". Karthikeyan experienced an abnormal spike in water temperature on lap 15, whilst Liuzzi's car was subject to vibrations from the rear wing. Although neither fault was terminal, the team elected to retire the cars rather than risk further damage.


2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Behind Vettel, the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button fought with Fernando Alonso for position, Button coming out on top and ultimately taking his first podium of the season, ahead of Nick Heidfeld who finished third, whilst both Hamilton and Alonso were penalised for their actions on track. Further back, D'Ambrosio pulled off the track with an electronics failure, and later Petrov crashed out from eighth place.