Archbishop Desmond Tutu has condemned as “disgraceful” the decision of the South African Government to refuse the Dalai Lama a visa for a peace conference linked to the 2010 Football World Cup.

The Dalai Lama was due to attend the conference being held in Johannesburg next week to discuss the role of football in combating racism and xenophobia. Participants at the conference were to include fellow Nobel laureates, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu and former South African President FW de Klerk.

Tutu and de Klerk have pulled out of the event following the government's decision, while Mandela's position remains unclear.

Archbishop Tutu told the Sunday Independent, "We are shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure … I feel deeply distressed and ashamed.”

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He was forced to flee Tibet 50 years ago following a failed uprising against Chinese rule. The Chinese government accuses the Dalai Lama of trying to gain independence for Tibet, while he claims he only seeks greater autonomy for the region.

South Africa is the biggest trading partner of China on the African continent. In 2008 trade between the two countries was £7 billion South African.

The South African Government denies that pressure from China has influenced its decision to deny the Dalai Lama a visa.

Thabo Masebe, a spokesman for the South African president, told the local Sapa news agency, “The South African government does not have a problem with the Dalai Lama,

"But at this time the whole world will be focused on the country as hosts of the 2010 World Cup. We want the focus to remain on South Africa. A visit now by the Dalai Lama would move the focus from South Africa onto issues in Tibet."