Arhinmäki had previously said he would boycott the games because of the treatment of former Prime Minister Julia Timoshenko. He joins a string of European politicians to announce they will not visit the Ukraine, which is co-hosting the tournament. Ministers from Britain, Germany and France have said they will not attend matches in the country.

Finland’s EU Economic Commissioner Olli Rehn, who like Arhinmäki is a football fan, also said he would miss the finals in Poland and Ukraine.

However Finns Party chair Timo Soini said in a television interview that it's too late for such gestures. Yle understands that Finnish Football Association General Secretary Kimmo J Lipponen will be heading to Ukraine.

Finnish president Sauli Niinistö, former president of the Finnish FA, turned down an invitation from Uefa president Michel Platini to visit Poland during the tournament. He had a schedule clash with a business forum in St Petersburg, where he will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Yle will broadcast every match at the tournament on TV1, TV2, TV Fem, YLE HD and Yle Areena.