Know your PIO/OCI Footballer: Niall Mason

Niall Mason played in the Qatari Second Division last season

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has stated that it has been trying to integrate Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) players into the national team. However, this has not been possible so far as per Indian sports laws which prohibit players of dual nationality playing for the nation.

One such player who could be in contention to play for the Indian national football team is — Niall Mason. In this article, we will understand the player’s roots, have a look at his career, and see if he is actually eligible to play for the Indian football team.

Niall Mason’s roots

Niall Mason was born in Brighton, England on 10th January 1997. Aside from spending his childhood in the country of his birth, the footballer’s family also lived in Spain and Qatar for a few years.

Though Niall is English by birth, this supposedly is not the case with his parents. His dad is an American citizen while his mother was born in India. Owing to this, the player can play for either England, India, or even the United States.

It is not known if Niall currently holds an OCI card, however, he should be eligible for the same.

Niall Mason’s club career so far

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Niall Aadya Mason (@niallmason_5)

Niall Mason started his football career at Real Madrid’s academy. He was a seven-year-old kid at that time and was able to play in the Spanish capital as his parents had relocated to the country at that time. The defender also played for Al Sadd (Qatar), Blackburn Rovers, and Southampton’s youth teams before becoming a professional.

After playing for Southampton’s U18 side, Niall was signed by Aston Villa. He played for the Villains’ U21 side in 2015 before joining Doncaster Rovers on loan for the 2016-17 season and helped them get promoted to the English third division. After a good showing, the club permanently signed up the defender in 2018.

Overall, Niall Mason played 120 games for Doncaster Rovers, before moving to Peterborough United, another English third division club, helping them get promoted to the English Championship. He played 69 games for the club before taking his professional skills to Qatar.

In the Asian country, Niall has represented Lusail SC, Al Shahania SC, and Muaither SC. The defender played for the latter last season, however, his contract has now expired and he is looking for a new club for next season.

Has he played for any national team?

Niall Mason has neither played for the England national football team nor the USA men’s football team at any level.

Can Niall play for the Indian football team?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Niall Aadya Mason (@niallmason_5)

Niall Aadya’s mother was born in India and hence the footballer is of Indian descent. To add to this, he has not represented England or the United States. The FIFA eligibility rule dictates that a player can only represent one national team at the senior level. Hence the defender is theoretically eligible to play for the Blue Tigers.

As stated earlier, it is not known if Niall currently has an OCI card. While the player could qualify to get an OCI card, India’s laws currently don’t not allow such players to play for the national team.

Talks are going on for years to allow OCI players to represent the Indian football team. As of yet, there are no updates on this. If and when the law changes, Niall Aadya should be eligible to play for India, if he is interested to do so.

What does Niall bring to the table?

Niall can play as a fullback, centre back, and even as a defensive midfielder. This versatility can make Niall a great fit for the Indian football team.

Currently, the Blue Tigers have a respectable number of players in defensive positions. However, all of them, apart from Sandesh Jhingan, have only played in the Indian leagues. This lack of experience becomes a disadvantage when India plays the top Asian and world football teams.

At the age of 28, Niall is supposedly entering his prime as a defender. While he might not be the biggest OCI/PIO name out there, he will certainly improve the squad if the government of India allows OCI players to represent the national football team.

Niall Mason: Profile

• Name: Niall Aadya Mason
• Age: 28-years-old
• Place of Birth: Brighton, England
• Current Citizenship: English
• Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
• Positions: Centre-back/Full-back
• Preferred Foot: Right-footed player
• Current Club: Muaither SC (Qatari Second Division)
• Contract Expired: 30th June 2025

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.