Oxford United pull ‘United 93’ clothing range two hours after launch

Oxford United have apologised and withdrawn an American-sports-inspired clothing collection after one of the shirts displayed the words “United 93”.

The club says the number was intended to reference its founding in 1893, but acknowledged that nobody involved in approving the range recognised its association with United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the September 11 attacks.

The Campus Collection was removed from sale approximately two hours after its launch on Friday, September 18.

Oxford said the connection was completely unintentional and accepted responsibility for failing to identify it before the clothing went on sale.

September 11 launch had already been delayed

The circumstances surrounding the launch made the mistake particularly unusual.

The American-sports-style collection had originally been scheduled for release on September 11, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Oxford subsequently delayed the launch because of concerns about the sensitivity of releasing an American-inspired collection on the anniversary.

The range eventually went on sale one week later.

But despite the earlier decision to postpone it because of the date, a shirt prominently combining the club’s name with “93” still reached customers.

Flight 93 was one of four aircraft hijacked on September 11, 2001. It crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

Oxford said the intended meaning was simply Oxford United and 1893, with the collection drawing on American collegiate and sporting designs.

The club said it had failed to carry out sufficient due diligence and is now reviewing its internal approval procedures.

There is no suggestion that the Flight 93 reference was intentional.

Reaction among supporters has been divided, with some criticising the failure to identify the association before launch while others have described it as an unfortunate coincidence.

For Oxford, however, the issue was serious enough to withdraw the entire collection within hours of it going on sale.

Sources

• Reuters – Oxford withdraws United 93 clothing range and apologises
• The Guardian – original September 11 launch plan and withdrawal
• Associated Press – Oxford apology and Flight 93 background