According to a Financial Times report, British ministers announced that they will "boycott the initial stages of the Euro 2012 football championships as a protest against the treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed opposition leader in Ukraine, one of the tournament’s host countries."
"The British boycott follows similar moves announced by other European countries, including France and Germany. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said last month that she would not attend any German games played in Ukraine, while the French foreign ministry made a similar announcement a week ago,"the report adds.
Financial Times: Ukraine faces UK football boycott
According to the Financial Times, the British boycott of Euro 2012 games held in Ukraine is the latest blow to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who is under fire internationally on charges his administration is persecuting political rivals. Ukraine has spent almost $8 billion revamping the country's infrastructure in the hope that Euro 2012 will boost his country's image.
