Oxford release NFL-style shirt with ‘United 93’ on back near 9/11 anniversary as U’s issue grovelling apology

SportFootballEFL OXFORD UNITED issued an apology after releasing merchandise with ‘United 93’ near the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The U’s launched their Campus Collection range this week, including NFL-style and baseball-style navy and yellow shirts. Oxford have pulled their Campus Collection after accidentally referencing 9/11 Credit: Oxford United FC The NFL-style jersey had ‘United 93’ on the back – the code of one of the hijacked planes Credit: Oxford United FC The jerseys featured ‘United 93’ on the back in reference to the club being founded in 1893. However, the club drew criticism after they failed to acknowledge the historical significance of the phrase. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Because 25 years ago last week, United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists as part of the co-ordinated 9/11 attacks. Four terrorists took control of the plane, which departed from Newark in New Jersey for San Francisco. It was the only one of the four hijacked commercial passenger planes not to hit its intended target – thought to be either the US Capitol or the White House. The other three struck the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon. The United 93 aircraft crash-landed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all 44 people on board. The overall death toll of the 9/11 attacks was 2,977. Most read in Football United 93 was also the title used for a docudrama film about the tragedy, released in 2006. And Oxford quickly took to social media to say sorry for their misguided range, which has now been removed from sale. The League One club posted on X on Friday morning and said: “Oxford United would like to sincerely apologise for the recent launch of the Campus Collection. “The range was released without understanding of the historical context and associations. “It should not have reached the point of sale and we take full responsibility for not undertaking proper due diligence. “We have removed the collection with immediate effect and are reviewing our approval processes to ensure nothing like this happens again. “Once again, we would like to put on record our sincere apologies for this error and for any offence caused.” Oxford sit sixth in League One following their relegation from the Championship last term. Aaron Ramsey’s side host university-city rivals and fellow promotion-chasers Cambridge United at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. Comment now