Chantal Jouanno said no anti-discrimination laws were broken when Blanc and football federation colleagues discussed whether quotas should be introduced to curb training academy access for young French players with dual nationality, many of them black and Arab.

“It emerges very clearly that ways to limit the numbers of so-called dual-national players ... including putting in place quotas were, in fact, debated” at the Nov. 8 French Football Federation meeting of coaches that Blanc attended, she said.

“The subject was raised in a manner both clumsy and clearly uncalled-for, clearly uncalled-for,” Jouanno added. “The general impression that emerges is really very unpleasant, with innuendoes that very often were borderline tending toward racist.” But while possible quotas were discussed, she said the idea was subsequently dismissed and they weren't implemented. For that reason, Jouanno said that there are no grounds to start legal proceedings.

“This solution of quotas was discarded,” she said. “Our evidence does not establish the existence of any system of quotas or plans for discriminatory quotas.” “It is clear that there is no element or bundle of evidence that would allow one to say or to suspect that there was an infringement of the anti-discrimination law.

This analysis was confirmed by the Justice Ministry,” she said.

“I'm not here to chop off heads,” Jouanno added. “It's not my role.” Jouanno defended Blanc, saying it was the first time that the coach had been to this type of meeting at the French Football Federation. She said the 1998 World Cup winner was very surprised to learn at the meeting that many youths who could play for France end up playing for other countries.

She said that Blanc has proved in his career that he does not discriminate.

“No fact shows that Laurent Blanc approves of discriminatory procedures,” Jouanno said.

The minister said, however, that French youth coaches face “a real problem” of how to keep dual-nationality players.

From 2009-2010, 24 of 60 young French players who got training from the football federation chose to play for a country other than France, she said. Two youth team players even refused a call-up to the national squad, which is “totally unacceptable,” she said.

Changes to FIFA regulations in 2009 making it easier for players to represent other countries have accentuated the problem and “destabilized” France's youth team, she added.

“So the problem is real but one of the responses that was envisaged — implementing quotas — is totally, totally illegal,” she said.

“It is totally unthinkable,” she said