The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that ministers are to boycott the Euro 2012 football tournament over the treatment of the imprisoned Ukrainian opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, reports The Guardian.

According to the newspaper, there will be no British ministers present at England's group-stage matches.

Initially, the Sports Minister reportedly intimated it was due to logistical reasons, stating:

"I hope to go, is the honest answer. I hope to support British teams and support British sport. Given the economic backdrop and the weight of what's in the diary, it's unlikely we'll make it during the group stages," he said.

"It effectively takes two days out of the diary and we haven't really got two days. We're keeping it under review and we'll look at it very closely if we progress through to the qualifying stages."

However, a spokesperson for the foreign office told The Guardian,

"The government fully supports England's participation in Euro 2012. We hope this is a successful tournament for the England team, the fans, and the people of Ukraine and Poland."

"No ministers will be attending group games at Euro 2012. We are keeping attendance at later stages of the tournament under review in the light of ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine."

Previously, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, had announced that she and her ministers would boycott any German games played in Ukraine.