Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the dispute between former national football players and the ‘Ola Bola’ film production company should not be blown up.

"At the beginning of the film they (the production company) already said the film was inspired by historical events and not 100 percent based on historical facts.

"If not, they would surely use their real names," he told reporters after flagging off Le Tour de Langkawi 2016 (LTDL) at Dataran Merdeka, in Tapah today.

Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan.

The film ‘Ola Bola’ is based on events surounding the success of the Malaysian football team in qualifying for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

Several former national football players had threatened to take legal action against the ‘Ola Bola’ film production company for allegedly changing some facts.

Meanwhile, Khairy said ‘Ola Bola’ is among the best films which should be watched by football supporters and the general public.

The film - produced by Astro Shaw and directed by Chiu Keng Guan - has become a big hit with a collection of more than RM12 million after 18 days of screening.

- Bernama