Oxford United has withdrawn its new Campus Collection merchandise and issued a full apology after the 'United 93' branding was linked to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The club removed the items from sale about two hours after their Friday morning launch, acknowledging a serious lapse in contextual awareness.
The collection, which included American football-style jerseys, was intended to reference the club's 1893 founding year. The club's statement confirmed the design was meant to celebrate the club's history but was released without understanding of the wider historical context.
"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 had reportedly planned the launch for September 9 to coincide with the NFL season start but delayed it to avoid the attack anniversary. The decision to proceed on Friday still resulted in the unfortunate connection being made by supporters on social media and in fan forums. The club's managing director, Tim Williams, stated the error was a result of an internal process failure and that the club was "deeply sorry" for the distress caused.
"Once again, we would like to put on record our sincere apologies for this error and for any offence caused," the statement concluded. The club confirmed all orders for the collection would be cancelled and refunded in full.
The off-field incident comes as the team prepares for its next match in the league fixtures, sitting sixth in the League One standings with 11 points from six games. Their recent form, which fans can analyse in more detail on the club's stats page, includes a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United last Saturday, a result that leaves them four points behind leaders Bradford. The club will be hoping for a strong performance from its full squad as it looks to move on from the controversy.
Background and full detail: sports.yahoo.com
