Syria's Assad meets once dissident footballers in DamascusBEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met two former dissident footballers who returned to the national team for its World Cup qualifying campaign after years in exile, photographs posted by his office showed on Monday. Syria s football team outdid expectations in its campaign to qualify for the World Cup finals, reaching a play-off against Australia on Oct. 10 that they lost 2-1.  The photographs published on the presidency s social media feed showed him apparently in amicable conversation with Firas al-Khatib and Omar al-Soma, players who were both pictured with the Syrian opposition flag early in the conflict. Other photographs showed Assad posing with the whole team and signing a player s jacket. Syria s war, which began with demonstrations against Assad in 2011, has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and left more than half the population homeless. The army has gained momentum over the past two years, with military support from Russia and Iran.  The government says its policy is to pardon any Syrians who joined the opposition unless they have  blood on their hands . However, many exiles have said they fear arrest if they return.  The football team s unexpectedly strong performance in the qualifiers was hailed by many government supporters as a unifying moment for the country. But some opposition supporters identified the team with Assad s government, and declined to back it. worldnews
syria assad meets dissident footballers damascusbeirut reuters syrian president basal met two former dissident footballers returned national team world cup qualifying campaign years exile photographs posted office showed monday syria football team oldid expectations campaign qualify world cup finals reaching australia lost the photographs published presidency social media feed showed apparently amicable conversation firms omar players pictured syrian opposition flag early conflict other photographs showed assad posing whole team signing player jacket syria war began demonstrations assad killed hundreds thousands syrian left half population homeless the army gained momentum past two years military support russia iran the government says policy pardon syrian joined opposition unless blood hands however many exiles said fear arrest return the football team unexpectedly strong performance qualifiers hailed many government supporters unifying moment country but opposition supporters identified team assad government declined back worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Syria's Assad meets once dissident footballers in DamascusBEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met two former dissident footballers who returned to the national team for its World Cup qualifying campaign after years in exile, photographs posted by his office showed on Monday. Syria s football team outdid expectations in its campaign to qualify for the World Cup finals, reaching a play-off against Australia on Oct. 10 that they lost 2-1.  The photographs published on the presidency s social media feed showed him apparently in amicable conversation with Firas al-Khatib and Omar al-Soma, players who were both pictured with the Syrian opposition flag early in the conflict. Other photographs showed Assad posing with the whole team and signing a player s jacket. Syria s war, which began with demonstrations against Assad in 2011, has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and left more than half the population homeless. The army has gained momentum over the past two years, with military support from Russia and Iran.  The government says its policy is to pardon any Syrians who joined the opposition unless they have  blood on their hands . However, many exiles have said they fear arrest if they return.  The football team s unexpectedly strong performance in the qualifiers was hailed by many government supporters as a unifying moment for the country. But some opposition supporters identified the team with Assad s government, and declined to back it. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: syria assad meets dissident footballers damascusbeirut reuters syrian president basal met two former dissident footballers returned national team world cup qualifying campaign years exile photographs posted office showed monday syria football team oldid expectations campaign qualify world cup finals reaching australia lost the photographs published presidency social media feed showed apparently amicable conversation firms omar players pictured syrian opposition flag early conflict other photographs showed assad posing whole team signing player jacket syria war began demonstrations assad killed hundreds thousands syrian left half population homeless the army gained momentum past two years military support russia iran the government says policy pardon syrian joined opposition unless blood hands however many exiles said fear arrest return the football team unexpectedly strong performance qualifiers hailed many government supporters unifying moment country but opposition supporters identified team assad government declined back worldnews