Djurgarden Supporters Vandalize Croud Meadow Ground, Shrewsbury Town Reports

Shrewsbury Town has reported that supporters of the Swedish football club Djurgarden committed acts of vandalism and applied graffiti to sections of the Croud Meadow ground. The club, which hosted The New Saints’ (TNS) European fixture against Djurgarden at its Oteley Road venue on Thursday, expressed that it was “angry” and “saddened” by the damage inflicted. According to a spokesperson for Shrewsbury Town, over twenty-four seats were removed from the stadium’s West Stand. Additionally, “substantial damage” was noted to lighting, tables, and chairs within Smithy’s Bar and the Fanzone. The BBC has sought a statement from Djurgarden regarding the incident. Approximately 2,000 Djurgarden fans journeyed to Shrewsbury for the Europa Conference League game. In this match, the Cymru Premier champions were defeated 1-0 by Djurgarden, with Tobias Gulliksen scoring the decisive goal in the first half. The decision to hold the game at the Croud Meadow was made because The Saints’ Park Hall stadium, located in Oswestry, did not comply with Uefa regulations for hosting matches in the main draw of European competitions. Shrewsbury Town stated on its website that it had consented to host the match at its venue with the objectives of “boost[ing] tourism” and introducing European football to Shropshire. The League One team further indicated that discussions had taken place with Djurgarden, and efforts were underway with the Swedish club to rectify the damage. Nevertheless, it was noted that the repairs might not be finished before the team’s upcoming match against Blackpool on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Shrewsbury additionally stated, “As a club we would like to stress this vandalism is nothing to do with TNS – with the damage clearly caused by Djurgarden supporters.” Previously, The Saints had achieved a historic milestone in football by becoming the first domestic Welsh club to secure a victory in either the league or group stage of a significant European competition. The team is scheduled to host Panathinaikos for its subsequent European fixture on 12 December.