Theme of this thesis is the connection between football fans, nationalism and socio-economic processes in Yugoslavia with emphasis on the 1980s. After introduction, the thesis starts with the chapter on football in Yugoslavia and its beginnings in Kingdom of SHS. After the end of Second World War, communist came to power in Yugoslavia and many things started to change, including football. Parallelly with the club football, Yugoslav national team starts to develop. National team is important for a reason of comparison between nationalism in society and nationalism in sport. The main part of research was dedicated to nationalism in Yugoslavia. Inter-republic relations, the question of the “republic key”, and preventing the spread of nationalist ideas were demanding obstacles for the communist government. Communists led by Josip Broz Tito successfully guided the country until the end of the seventies when serious problems started to appear. The global crisis and the death of the leading politicians of Yugoslavia, especially Tito, turned the country in an unwanted direction. There was room for the emergence of new politicians with a pronounced national expression. The final part of the thesis is dedicated to the subculture of football fans, their origin, ideas and goals. The impact of social and political events on the strengthening of nationalism among fans, can be seen in the growing riots on stadiums. After the change of government in the republics and the beginning of the open conflict in the territory of the SFRY, fans moved from the stands to the battlefields.