"I promise you, God willing, I will be there next time," Omar Artan says to hundreds of flag-waving supporters at the airport.
Despite having a visa, the referee was denied entry to the United States. Somalia's Ministry of Sports tried to help Artan through diplomatic channels, but was unsuccessful. As a result, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) barred Artan from becoming the country's first World Cup referee.
"What they did to him hurts everyone who cares about humanity," said government spokesman Mohamed Said, according to AFP.
U.S. authorities said Artan was stopped because of concerns raised during a background check.
