Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson insisted "nobody was questioning" Gavin Bazunu's refusal to play against Israel and said the goalkeeper's wellbeing was being prioritised after his side won Sunday's controversial Nations League fixture in Hungary.
Bazunu's stance triggered an emergency summit at the team's hotel on Saturday morning, ending in what Football Association of Ireland chief David Courell described as a "significant majority" player vote to fulfil the Israel clash.
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Hallgrímsson revealed Bazunu, who did not travel to the stadium for the 3-0 victory, remains part of the squad ahead of Thursday's home encounter in Dublin against Austria, but will not participate in the reverse fixture against Israel, set to be held behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia, on Sunday.
"I've been speaking to Gavin multiple times a day," Hallgrímsson said. "I've regularly gone to his room, and all of us have been watching out for his wellbeing, and I think he is very happy that we won the game.
"Nobody was questioning his decision. It was only the timing that was difficult for us to kind of react to it, but none of us was asking him not to take his stand. Now he is flying back with us on the plane. He is in the squad.
"The plan is that he will be with us against Austria, and then not against Israel in the second game.
"It all depends on how Gavin feels. Does he want it? That's always the first question, or maybe he feels it's better that he would step out. It's just his decision. He has our support whether he wants to stay or not, and we will see."
Jack Moylan scored and added an assist at the Nagyerdei Stadium on Sunday night, the third goal in the opening 25 minutes after Troy Parrott and Adam Idah contributed the first two.
As expected, the Republic walked out wearing black armbands, which on Saturday were described by Courell as being "in recognition of all the lives lost in the conflict," referring to the Israel-Hamas war.
Moylan celebrated his goal by kissing and raising his armband before kissing his badge. Republic players bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem, and did not pose for the customary pre-match photo and pennant swap or exchange handshakes.
Hallgrímsson said the last few days "have probably been the toughest of my coaching career," and conceded he was worried about the reception his players might get at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday after electing to proceed with Sunday's contest.
Asked if their 'home' encounter in Serbia would still be going forward, or if there would still be discussions within the squad, Hallgrímsson said: "We just take it day-by-day. It was a tough enough decision to play this game here today.
"We play now Austria at the Aviva, and I wish all our fans come up and support these players. They have shown today how much playing for Ireland means to them, and that is the only way they can show it, on the pitch.
"They want to play football, and hopefully they will have support from the Irish people, because I think everybody can see how they represented themselves now, on the pitch with dignity, with the power of proud Irishmen on the pitch."
Israel boss Ran Ben Shimon said: "We didn't handle the pressure well, we didn't understand what is on our shoulders. We failed mentally, we failed tactically, and we have to search for the answers."
