World · Singapore Bureau
Oxford United withdraws merchandise after 'United 93' controversy
The English third-tier football club has apologised for launching a clothing line bearing the phrase 'United 93', citing a lack of awareness regarding its historical significance. The merchandise has since been pulled from sale.
LSN Singapore ·
Oxford United has withdrawn a merchandise collection featuring the slogan "United 93" and issued an apology after becoming aware of the phrase's sensitive historical context. The club, competing in England's third tier, had not recognised the connection to United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The clothing line, which capitalised on the club's name and the numerical reference "93" possibly linked to a significant year or commemoration, was removed following public backlash and internal review. The club acknowledged that it had failed to anticipate how the combination of words and numerals could be misinterpreted or associated with the tragic aviation disaster.
In a statement, Oxford United expressed regret over the oversight and confirmed the immediate discontinuation of the product range. The incident has prompted the club to review its merchandise approval processes to prevent similar situations in future.
The withdrawal comes amid broader scrutiny of sports organisations' marketing decisions and their responsibility to consider historical events and public sensitivities when developing branded products.