"There's something spectacularly silly about fans policing other fans for their adherence to the laws of fandom, as if not having one favourite club or preferring to watch from a seated position, is a VERY SERIOUS INFRACTION that should be SWIFTLY AND MERCILESSLY DEALT WITH. Because, you know, the economic recovery can't gather steam if Kyle in Ohio thinks it's fun to watch Chelsea on television."

In Episode Thirty One we look at Brian Phillips's 'The Real Problem' from Issue Five, which tackles the thorny subject of 'the real fan'. Aren't they just a rhetorical device deployed by someone to strengthen their particular argument?

The culture of sport is changing, and with it the way we access and support our favourite sides. Is there such a thing as a 'real fan' anymore?

Brian Phillips was a staff writer for Grantland and the editor of the football blog The Run of Play. His writing has appeared in Slate, Deadspin, Poetry, and The Hudson Review, among other publications. Twitter: @runofplay

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