France coach Laurent Blanc has admitted that he considered quitting as the race storm threatened to engulf him and his family.
Blanc has been cleared of racial discrimination in the row over talks concerning the introduction of quotas for dual nationality players, where he has been at the centre of the controversy.
“Did I offer my resignation? At no time,” Blanc said. “Did I consider resigning? Yes. Because at times you feel everything is getting out of hand and taking on a dimension beyond sport.
“But there was a greater thing to consider. I have been hired by the French football federation on a two-year contract with a precise mission, to qualify for Euro 2012.”