In Croatia, at the end of the eighties of the 20th century, after many years of silence and injustice of the communist government towards the Croatian people, the process of birth of a democratic and national movement began. The movement was created in the context of the collapse of European communism, the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the imminent danger of Greater Serbia. With the emergence of the fan subculture and the first fan groups in the eighties of the 20th century and the socio-political situation in which they were created, fans turned to nationalism. They become the bearers of democratic changes and the loudest opposition to the communist government. In the stands, hushed up and forbidden topics are discussed publicly, and stadiums become places of violence and expression of political views. Clashes between Croatian and Serbian fans from the stands turn into the Homeland War, where the first volunteer units are made up of members of the fan groups BBB, Torcida, Armada and others. Franjo Tuđman becomes the first Croatian president and recognizes sport as a political instrument used to promote the newly formed Croatian state, homogenize the nation and construct the Croatian national identity. In the war and post-war years, sports and Croatian athletes, with their successes and behavior, became the best promoters of Republic of Croatia.