ZIFA were sucked into an international football scandal on Monday after it emerged they may have conspired to pass Monomotapa as the Zimbabwe national team for international friendly matches with Malaysia.

Monomotapa failed to pitch up for a league match with Highway on Saturday after they left Zimbabwe without approval from the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Malaysia were scheduled to play Liberia in two international A-friendly matches but the FA of Malaysia (FAM) called off the games because the Liberians were not bringing their first team.

An invitation was then extended to ZIFA who sent Monomotapa, with the FAM reportedly picking up the bill.

Monomotapa were hammered 4-0 by the Malaysians in the first friendly on Sunday. They play again on Tuesday.

Local newspapers trumpeted a “rousing win by Malaysia”. The New Straits Times said: “It was just the start a young national side needed under a new coach as Malaysia crushed Zimbabwe 4-0 in an international friendly at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras.”

In a story headlined ‘Malaysia thrash Zimbabwe 4-0 in friendly game’, the news agency Bernama said: “Malaysia ran rings all over Zimbabwe to beat them 4-0 in a friendly at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras here Sunday.”

Malay Mail sports journalist Haresh Deol told New Zimbabwe.com: “We in Malaysia are said to be hosting the Zimbabwe national team for an international friendly match recognised by FIFA.

“When I asked coach Rodwell [Dhlakama] yesterday about the line up being Monomotapa United or the Zimbabwe national team, he insisted it was the Zimbabwe national team and not the club side.

“Based on the team list we have, all 18 players are that of Monomotapa including their latest signing Tendai Gwata.

“We're now wondering if the Zimbabwean Football Association are well aware of this. Please take note that FIFA has considered this as an A-international match and thus will effect the ranking position of both teams. For the record, Zimbabwe national team are ranked above Malaysia in the FIFA rankings.”

PSL secretary general Kennedy Ndebele said Monomotapa’s trip was not sanctioned.

ZIFA CEO Henrietta Rushwaya said she was on leave until Thursday and could not comment on Monomotapa’s trip.

But a ZIFA source said: “In light of Monomotapa’s forthcoming Champions League engagements, we thought the Malaysia friendlies would benefit them.

“But their participation in those matches depended on them getting clearance from the PSL, which they insist they sought but got no reply. There is clearly a reason to believe Monomotapa have done this without PSL and therefore ZIFA permission.”

The ZIFA official insisted the Malaysian FA had been made aware that they were playing the Zimbabwean champions and not the national team.