Ground vandalised by Djurgarden fans

Djurgaden fans covered three areas at the Croud Meadow in graffiti, a Shrewsbury Town spokesperson said

Fans of Swedish football team Djurgarden have vandalised the Croud Meadow ground and covered areas with graffiti, Shrewsbury Town has said.

The club hosted The New Saints' (TNS) European clash with the visitors at its home on Oteley Road on Thursday, but said it was "angry" and "saddened" after it was left vandalised.

More than two dozen seats have been ripped out of the stadium's West Stand alongside "substantial damage" to lighting, tables and chairs in Smithy's Bar and the Fanzone, a Shrewsbury Town spokesperson said.

The BBC has approached Djurgarden for comment.

"Substantial damage" was also caused to the club's West Stand and Smithy's Bar

About 2,000 Djurgarden supporters travelled to Shrewsbury to attend the Europa Conference League match, which saw the Cymru Premier champions lose 1-0 against Djurgarden after a goal from Tobias Gulliksen in the first half.

The game was held at the Croud Meadow after the Oswestry-based Saints' own Park Hall stadium didn't meet Uefa regulations for matches in the main draw of European competitions.

In a statement on its website, Shrewsbury Town said it had agreed to host the match at its own ground to "boost tourism" and to bring European football to Shropshire.

The League One side added it had spoken to Djurgarden and was working with the Swedish club to repair the damage.

The Croud Meadow has been the home of Shrewsbury Town since 2007

However, work may not be completed in time for the team's next fixture against Blackpool on Wednesday, it added.

"As a club we would like to stress this vandalism is nothing to do with TNS – with the damage clearly caused by Djurgarden supporters," a spokesperson for Shrewsbury added.

The Saints had previously made football history as the first domestic Welsh club to win a match in the league or group stage of a major European competition.

The team will host Panathinaikos in its next European fixture on 12 December.