The 32-year-old libero, playing in his first and probably last finals, received his marching orders in the 74th minute of yesterday's game at the Stade de France for pushing Croatian defender Slaven Bilic's chin with his open hand.

Earlier, France coach Aime Jacquet was to lodge an appeal against Blanc's expulsion but FIFA said Spanish referee Jose Garcia-Aranda's decision will stand and Blanc will be banned for the final.Blanc has never been sent off in his football career, either at club level or in his 73 previous internationals.

The Olympique Marseille defender became aFrench hero during the tournament. He scored the golden goal against Paraguay in the second round and the final penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out against Italy.

``I was surprised by the red card,'' said Jacquet. ``I was sorry for Laurent. The referee's decision was unjust. It took the shine off our victory celebrations.''Jacquet's appeal is backed up by one precedent. In 1962, Brazil's Garrincha was sent off in the semi-final against Chile. He escaped a ban and played in the final which Brazil won 3-1 against Czechoslovakia.

Striker Stephane Guivarc'H said on the sending off: ``I think the referee badly interpreted the situation and that the Croatians cheated. It was tremendous with both Blanc and Marcel Desailly in central defence.''``I'm the only one who's punished and that's good,'' Blanc said. ``The whole team might have been punished if we had lost the match because of me being sent off. It would have been awful. I would have felt guilty.''

Blanc said he had reacted angrily after Bilic had lethimself fall to the ground when the two went for the ball.``It was tense between us for the whole match,'' he said. ``I pushed him a bit but it was not nasty. He had tried to make the referee think that I had committed a serious offence and I was afraid I might get sent off. That's why I reacted like that. I was silly but I don't think it deserved a red card.''

Bilic offered a different version: ``I tried to block him and he punched me in the face,'' he said. ``I don't care about him. I didn't want him to be sent off but it was his stupid mistake. Let him be punished for it.''

French captain Didier Deschamps, who was close to the incident, said he felt the sanction was severe. ``He pushed him on the chest, may be on the chin, and the guy held his forehead as if he had been punched,'' he said. ``Bilic managed to convince the referee but really it wasn't worth a red card.

``We lose a great player who would have deserved to play a final and who will probably never get another chance,'' Deschamps added.``All we can do now is win it for him.'' After France failed to qualify for the 1994 finals in the United States, Blanc considered ending his international career but changed his mind after some persuasion from coach Aime Jacquet.

``The whole team did a fantastic job and I played my part,'' Blanc said yesterday. ``Playing the final would have been the icing on the cake but never mind.''

The libero slot may now be filled by Franck Leboeuf and Deschamps said he had no doubt about the Chelsea player's ability to take over Blanc's role.

``Franck's a brilliant player and he get's on well with (stopper) Marcel (Desailly),'' Deschamps said. ``We all trust him and we're not worried.'' But Jacquet said the absence of the towering Blanc might be a problem.

``It will be tough for us without him,'' he said.