Oxford United have issued a full apology after advertising a merchandise range that inadvertently referenced the September 11 attacks. The club removed the 'Campus Collection' from sale with immediate effect after realising the error.
A teaser for the American-themed range went live on Thursday, September 10, advertising a launch the following day. One shirt in the collection featured 'United 93' printed on the back, a number the club said was intended to reference its 1893 founding year. The release coincided with the 25th anniversary of the 2001 attacks, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania, killing all 44 people on board.
"Oxford United would like to sincerely apologise for the recent launch of the Campus Collection," the club said. "The range was released without understanding of the historical context and associations."
The club confirmed it is now reviewing its internal approval processes to prevent a repeat. "We have removed the collection with immediate effect and are reviewing our approval processes to ensure nothing like this happens again," the statement continued. "Once again, we would like to put on record our sincere apologies for this error and for any offence caused."
The off-field incident comes as the team sits sixth in League One with 11 points from six matches. Their recent form includes a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United last Friday, a result that extended their unbeaten run to three games.
Oxford United's statement acknowledged a serious lapse in oversight for the merchandise, which was planned to tie in with the new NFL season. The club's focus now returns to the pitch, where they have scored 13 goals this campaign. Key forward Gatlin O'Donkor leads the scoring charts with three goals, a tally supporters can track on the club's stats page. The next challenge is that away fixture at Doncaster on September 26.
Background and full detail: thetimes.com
