Football Association of Ireland president Paul Cooke has defended the organisation's approach to the fallout from their controversial Nations League clashes with Israel and felt they "handled the week quite well."
The Republic ultimately beat Israel 3-0 on Sunday, a match that hung in the balance the previous morning after goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable for selection, later posting a statement on Instagram saying he felt it would be "wrong to participate."
His position triggered a team vote and an emergency summit on Saturday morning, resulting in what FAI chief David Courell branded a "significant majority" decision in favour of playing the contest, which took place in front of about 150 Israel fans and a handful of Irish supporters in Hungary.
"I think we've handled the week quite well," said Cooke, speaking after the match. "Before we get into that, I think if you look at the courage, the performance, the way they conducted themselves, everybody that was here tonight, those 20-odd players walked out as a nation, as a country, as a footballing organisation.
"We should be so proud of the difficulties that they've encountered."
At a July 8 extraordinary general meeting, the FAI general assembly voted 75-32, with three abstensions, in favour of a motion "fulfilling its obligations" by playing Israel, "while acknowledging the strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine."
The motion also asked members to "recognise the profound impact that any non-fulfilment... would have on Irish football," including potential "undetermined" sanctions Cooke said remained threateningly unclear even after the Republic's victory.
Some potential sanctions are known. UEFA disciplinary regulations state that a team forfeiting a game is deemed to have lost 3-0. In a June statement, the FAI expressed concern that the loss of six points "could lead to relegation to League C in the Nations League, and weaken our qualifying potential to UEFA Euro 2028."
A statement released before the EGM in July also referred to a "significant financial impact," estimated by the FAI at a minimum €5.5 million (£4.7m).
Cooke said UEFA had "never communicated anything specifically" about what the sanctions could be beyond what is in its official regulations. He pointed to the case of Southampton's expulsion from last season's Championship playoff final over the "Spygate" scandal, adding: "Southampton got a taste of what an undetermined sanction would be.
"We are charged with what is good for Irish football and the future of Irish football."
The Republic next travel back to Dublin, where they face Austria at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, a fixture still set to be mired in controversy with some sections of the population unhappy with the players' choice to play and the FAI's handling of the situation.
Heimir Hallgrímsson's men are then set to depart for Serbia for their reverse 'home' fixture with Israel, to take place behind closed doors in Backa Topola.
- Republic of Ireland coach: 'Nobody questioning' Bazunu's refusal to face Israel
- Republic of Ireland beat Israel after skipping pregame handshakes
- Republic of Ireland beat Israel in controversial fixture
Cooke said the FAI "respected" the players' vote to play Israel in Hungary, adding: "The players are the ultimate."
The FAI president added the organisation is taking things "one game at a time." Asked if another vote could take place before the Israel rematch, he said: "I'm not going to mention a vote. At the moment, the intention is to play the game.
"If somebody said they didn't want to play the game or whatever, we would look at that. We always respect people's views. We are a democratic, transparent organisation."