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The daughter of jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko says the attendance of British government officials at Euro 2012 could be a more effective statement than the current boycott.
The Foreign Office says ministers will not go to England's quarter-final on Sunday because of concerns about human rights abuses.
If Eugenia Tymoshenko's mother had won a fraction more of the vote in Ukraine's last election she would have been presiding over Euro 2012 from the presidential box.
Instead, she has been watching from a prison cell where in April she claimed to have been abused by her guards.
The former prime minister and opposition firebrand was jailed for seven years in what was widely viewed as a politically motivated case, orchestrated, she claims, by her bitter rival and current President Viktor Yanukovych.
"We never thought that she would end up in prison being maltreated and humiliated - all of her rights have been broken, so we just have to continue to fight," says Eugenia.
Her mother's treatment has led to a so-far ineffective boycott of Euro 2012 by the British government. Eugenia believes now could be the time for a change of tack.
Now, she would prefer David Cameron to come to Ukraine and make a statement. "He could say something to Yanukovych's face which will be stronger than just saying they won't come."
Attendance at a final in Kiev that might - perhaps optimistically - involve England, is under review, says the Foreign Office. International morality versus supporting our boys would be a tough call.
I ask her if she thinks the British government will support the England team over her mother?
"Sport should be sport and, of course, if they come to cheer together with the British fans in the fan zone, in the stadium, and at the same time visit political prisoners or make a statement about this to Yanukovych, it would be even maybe much stronger."
With the Ukrainian government's continued refusal to budge such a visit seems highly unlikely.
