Oxford: English football club Oxford United has offered an apology after launching American-style merchandise bearing the text "United 93" on the reverse, near the 25th anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks, stating the clothing line was released "without understanding of the historical context and associations."

The team, which competes in the third tier of English football, confirmed on Friday that it had withdrawn the apparel line with immediate effect and was conducting an internal investigation into its sign-off procedures.

Oxford United was established in 1893 under its original name, Headington FC, before adopting its current identity in 1960.

United Airlines Flight 93 was among four commercial aircraft hijacked on 11 September 2001, during the coordinated attacks that destroyed New York's World Trade Centre towers and damaged the Pentagon. Investigators determined the airliner was aimed at Washington, D.C., but crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers and crew attempted to overpower the hijackers in the cockpit.

In an official statement, Oxford United expressed a wish to “sincerely apologise” for releasing its Campus Collection, which, according to local reports, comprised an American football shirt and a baseball jersey.

“The range was released without understanding of the historical context and associations,” the statement read. “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.”

The webpage hosting the announcement for the Campus Collection has since been taken down.

AP