On the one hand, business was completely normal.

In the last few days before the transfer window finally closes for a few months, hundreds of millions of euros have quickly changed hands in Europe.

On the other hand, the German Football League recently warned against misusing football as “symbolic politics” in the looming energy crisis.

So bringing the entire Bundesliga matchday forward to 1 p.m. this winter so that the floodlights, which are currently also switched on in summer, can be switched off completely in order to be able to better illuminate the field for better quality television pictures – who dares to be the first to make such a suggestion ?

And then ducks to avoid being clubbed to "existing television contracts."

Extremely complex crisis

The topic of "sport and energy saving" in the context of this crisis is extremely complex, multi-layered and multi-faceted.

Turning down the temperature in swimming pools, for example, is not a big deal for many - only the little ones then have no swimming lessons, as in the two pandemic years, the seniors would also have to pass.

And turning off the floodlights, that also sounds easy - and for many amateur clubs one question will arise anyway in view of rising electricity costs: "Can we still afford to turn on the lights?" But without light there will soon be no more sport in the outdoor facilities.

Many sports are threatened - with all the long-term consequences - with the third winter in a row with restricted game operations with rapidly increasing costs and falling membership numbers, the development of the pandemic is not even priced in.

And anyone who wants to switch off the light in municipal halls from 10 p.m. in future will pull the plug on the clubs in view of the shortage of halls and the fight for training times.

Professional sport must also be irritated by the Federal Government's Energy Saving Ordinance, which came into force this Thursday, as the handball clubs have made clear.

The ordinance stipulates that illuminated advertising must be switched off between 10 p.m. and 4 p.m. the following day.

At 10 p.m., however, the evening games in various sports are still running, at 4 p.m. the afternoon games have already begun.

And everyone knows that, so the times chosen can hardly be an accident.