Oxford United has issued an apology after an image used to promote a club shirt included the call sign of United 93, the flight associated with one of the planes hijacked in the 11 September 2001 attacks.
The inclusion of the call sign prompted concern because United 93 is widely remembered in connection with the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States. The September 11 events remain a highly sensitive subject, and the use of related imagery in commercial or promotional material can cause distress.
The club said it was sorry for the image. The appearance of the call sign on promotional material for a football shirt drew attention because of the historical association with the attacks, and raised questions about the oversight of imagery used in marketing.
Oxford United did not provide further detail about how the image came to be used or what steps would follow. The episode underlines the care organisations must take when using symbols or references that may be linked to tragic events or carry strong emotional resonance for many people.