Oxford United Issues Apology for 'United 93' Apparel Launch

Oxford United has removed a U.S.-style clothing line featuring 'United 93' branding after the launch coincided with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

English League One club Oxford United issued a formal apology on Friday, September 18, 2026, following the release of a "Campus Collection" featuring U.S.-style apparel branded with "United 93" on the back. The launch occurred around the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, which involved the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93. The club, currently playing in England's third tier, has removed the clothing range from sale with immediate effect and deleted the official launch page.

According to a statement from the club, the collection was released without understanding the historical context or associations of the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania in 2001. Oxford United, which was founded as Headington FC in 1893 before changing its name in 1960, took full responsibility for the lack of due diligence in its approval processes. The team's ownership group is led by Erick Thohir, the current sports minister of Indonesia and former majority owner of Inter Milan.

The club confirmed it is now reviewing internal protocols to prevent similar errors in the future. While the "93" branding referred to the club's founding year, officials acknowledged the offense caused by the association with the hijacked aircraft intended for Washington. The Associated Press and PA reported that the club expressed sincere apologies for the error and has ceased all sales of the specific merchandise line.