Macron decorates Eyraud, the former president of OM, and pays tribute to Payet, victim of an "unworthy aggression"

“That Kylian Mbappé excuse me, but I'm going to have to talk about this great club that is Olympique de Marseille!

"Wide smile on his lips, Emmanuel Macron takes pleasure in teasing the Parisian player, invited Monday evening to the presentation of the insignia of knight of the Legion of honor to Mohamed Sanhadji, the security officer of the French team of football, and Philippe Tournon, the former press chief of the Blues.

The former president of OM, Jacques-Henri Eyraud is also decorated, and this is the opportunity for the head of state to recall his attachment to the club of the Marseille city.

"You know my personal passion for this club, I know what you gave it, with time, the supporters will remember it", underlines Emmanuel Macron, for the attention of Jacques-Henri Eyraud, a president who does not has not always been unanimous in the Marseille city.

The President of the Republic has then "a thought moved for Bernard Tapie", the former boss of OM, who died last October 3 and for Dimitri Payet, "after the unworthy aggression of which he was the victim" during the match against Lyon in Ligue 1, on November 21.

Yannick Souvré also in the spotlight

The president tackles, but is touching when talking about the course of Mohamed Sanhadji, son of harki - "You are one of those to whom I asked for forgiveness", recalls Emmanuel Macron -, former peacekeeper, volunteer in Kosovo in 1999, became in 2004, the security gentleman of the Blues. "Loving France is for you a family affair", points out the Head of State, evoking "the sense of republican duty" of the one whom the Blues have nicknamed their "guardian angel". Didier Deschamps, guest in the Elysée lounges, smiles.

"France owes you thirty years of good and loyal service", summarizes Emmanuel Macron, who during the evening also presented the insignia of Officer of the Legion of Honor to Yannick Souvré, the former captain of the team of France basketball.

"You have laid the foundations for a story that continues, you have paved the way for what we have been able to experience in recent months", underlined the president, in reference to the success of team sports last summer at the Olympic Games from Tokyo.