According to The Athletic, English club Oxford United has apologized to the public for a new kit collection called "United 93" and has withdrawn all related products from sale. The collection sparked controversy due to the clear association of "United 93" with United Airlines Flight 93 during the tragic 9/11 attacks in 2001, particularly as the product was launched during the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Oxford United launched an American-inspired "Campus Collection" on Friday morning, with some items featuring NFL-style kit designs with "United 93" printed on the back.

The word "United" comes from the club's name, Oxford United, while "93" relates to the club's history—Oxford United was founded in 1893, originally named Headington United.

However, "United 93" is widely recognized as the name of United Airlines Flight 93. On September 11, 2001, the passenger aircraft departed from Newark Airport in the United States and was scheduled to fly to San Francisco when it was hijacked by four terrorists. Passengers and crew members attempted to regain control of the aircraft, preventing it from reaching its intended target in Washington. The plane ultimately crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, killing all 44 passengers and crew members. The 2006 film "United 93" also depicted events from this flight.

Oxford United's products were quickly removed from sale after the Friday 10:00 a.m. launch, and the entire American-inspired collection is no longer visible or available for purchase on the club's official website.

Notably, Oxford United had originally planned to launch the collection on September 9 to coincide with the start of the new NFL season. However, the club recognized that this date was too close to the 9/11 anniversary and decided to delay the launch by one week.

Those involved in the design and launch of this kit collection stated that when the product was finally released, they were unaware of the historical significance and associations of "United 93."

After discovering the issue, Oxford United immediately withdrew the entire collection and issued an apology statement approximately one hour later. Club sources indicated that Oxford United was deeply disappointed by the error and acknowledged that the club bore responsibility.

Oxford United stated in their apology: "Oxford United Football Club sincerely apologizes for the launch of the recent Campus Collection."

"This collection was launched without sufficient understanding of the relevant historical context and associations. This collection should not have been released, and we take full responsibility for failing to conduct appropriate due diligence checks."

"We have immediately withdrawn this collection and are reviewing our internal approval processes to ensure that a similar situation does not occur again."

"We sincerely apologize once again for this error and for any distress it may have caused."

Oxford United currently has former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey as their manager. The team was relegated from the Championship last season and is currently in 6th place in League One. They will host Cambridge United at home on Saturday.

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