The residents of Blanc's home village are seething that their favourite son is banned from playing for France in Sunday's World Cup Final against Brazil.

Blanc was automatically ruled out of the final when he was sent off for pushing Croatia's Slaven Bilic in Wednesday's semifinal. Bilic was widely criticised for over-reacting and later apologised to Blanc.

``I feel like I've been robbed,'' said Blanc's father Gilbert. Lino Linares, trainer of the village sports club where young Laurent first learned to kick a ball, said: ``Our great day has been spoiled by this totally unjustified decision.''

Club vice-president Antoine Sergi added: ``I didn't sleep all night. We are so sorry for him as he had so wanted to play in the Final. He is a really nice, modest man.''

Each year, Blanc returns to this southern village for a tournament bearing hisname. ``As soon as he arrives, 200 or 300 kids jump on him asking for autographs. Each time he gives us one of his national team shirts for our lottery,'' said Linares.

But Gilbert Laurent said his son was not too despondent.

``After an unhappy, difficult night his morale has improved he told me he would prefer that he was unhappy and not on the pitch for the final than that the team had been knocked out because of his mistake.'' Blanc was banned for two matches by Fifa yesterday.