THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) suspended chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya on Saturday pending investigations into Monomotapa’s controversial trip to Asia last year during which they posed as the national team.

Rushwaya, who was appointed chief executive of the soccer governing body in March 2007, was suspended at the association's board meeting held in Masvingo.

The meeting was attended by members of the outgoing Zifa board and also those contesting elections scheduled for 27 March.

Rushwaya confirmed the development to New Zimbabwe.com but added that she had not yet seen the letter of suspension.

The Zifa boss said she would only comment when she gets the letter of suspension.

"I have been suspended but there is no formal communication. I am yet to receive the letter informing me of the suspension. I have nothing to comment. I will issue a statement when I get the letter," said Rushwaya.

ZIFA president Wellington Nyatanga who chaired the meeting that made the resolution to suspend Rushwaya confirmed the chief executive's suspension but declined to disclose the reasons for the move.

But, sources close to Zifa said at the weekend Rushwaya was suspended over the controversial decision to send former Premier League champions Monomotapa to Malaysia and pass them off as the Zimbabwe national soccer team last December.

It is alleged Rushwaya sanctioned that trip without the consent of the Sport and Recreation Commission - the country’s supreme sports decision making body which sanctions all international trips.

The Football Association of Malaysia accused ZIFA of deception after New Zimbabwe.com exposed the scandal.

FAM general secretary Datuk Azzudin Ahmad, waving a letter from ZIFA, told journalists: “Look at this letter and tell me what you understand from it. It states clearly they are sending their national side.

“From one national FA to another, there has to be mutual respect. When we are told that this is their national team, we take their word for it. We do not question it because that would be questioning their integrity.”

When confronted on the matter at the time, Rushwaya denied signing the letter sent to FAM passing off Monomotapa -- who wore the national team strip -- as the Warriors.

She promised "heads will roll" over Monomotapa's use of the national team strip.

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Board members who met at the emergency meeting last Saturday laid the blame on Rushwaya for the controversial trip which forced the Premier Soccer League to call off Monomotapa's league match away to Highway.