Oxford United Apologises After 'United 93' Clothing Range Evokes 9/11 Reference

Oxford United has issued a public apology after withdrawing a new range of American-style sportswear that inadvertently referenced the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the club said.

The League One football club launched its "Campus Collection" on Friday morning, intending to mark the 1893 founding of the club, according to the club. However, the range was removed from sale by lunchtime the same day after the clothing designs were found to bear the slogan "United 93," a phrase closely associated with United Airlines Flight 93, the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania during the September 11 attacks.

Oxford United subsequently published an apology acknowledging what it described as a lack of understanding of "the historical context and associations" connected to the branding. The club offered "sincere apologies for this error and any offence caused," according to the statement.

The collection had been designed to celebrate the club's founding year, with "93" intended to reference 1893. However, when combined with the word "United," the slogan closely mirrored the flight designation widely known in connection with the 9/11 attacks, in which passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 attempted to retake control of the aircraft from hijackers before it crashed, killing all 44 people aboard.

The club has not detailed further plans for the merchandise range following its withdrawal from sale.