SoccerFrance coach Laurent Blanc was today absolved of any blame following the controversy surrounding limiting the presence of ethnic minority players in the national set-up.

It was recently claimed that plans were made at a meeting last November to restrict the numbers of black players and those of north African origin entering national training centres and academies at the age of 12.

Blanc was said to have been present, along with French Football Federation technical director Francois Blaquart, Under-21 coach Erick Mombaerts and Under-20 coach Francis Smerecki.

French sports minister Chantal Jouanno today said: “Laurent Blanc was present for the first time at this type of meeting. He wasn’t organiser or pilot. He discovered the debate about quotas.

“He offered no opinions, unlike other participants at the meeting who were prepared for this debate. There is nothing to suggest that Laurent Blanc condones discriminatory guidelines.”