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UK government to boycott England match

European leaders have stayed away from the tournament's group matches held in Ukraine in protest at the jailing of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, but could find themselves facing a dilemma if their teams progress.

Asked if any ministers would attend England's match against Italy in Kiev on Sunday, a spokeswoman for Cameron said: "No. They're not. It reflects ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine."

Her supporters are distributing leaflets and T-shirts to football fans across the country to draw attention to her plight and during Germany's match against the Netherlands in Kharkiv two German members of the European parliament unfurled a banner urging the release of political prisoners.

The West's view is that her trial and seven-year sentence last year - for abuse of office while prime minister - was politically motivated and smacks of "selective justice".

"If they make it and obviously we hope they do, and that game would not be in the Ukraine, then we would expect a minister to go," Cameron's spokeswoman said.

German leader Angela Merkel, an avid supporter of Germany's team, has so far stayed away from matches in Ukraine but will watch the Germans play Greece in Gdansk on Friday.