Twitter reacts as football community calls for India vs West Indies match to be moved out of Kochi stadium

The JLN in Kochi has come under the scanner, after KCA proposed to host an ODI.

We football fans in India have small joys and reasons to be happy about. A proper football pitch is one of them. Let's not snatch that away, even if it's for a little while.#SaveKochiTurf
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2018

Urged Shri. Vinod Rai who has promised to look into the matter. Hoping that neither the cricket nor the football fans are disappointed. @BCCI @KCAcricket
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 20, 2018

Worried about the potential damage to the FIFA approved World class Football turf in Kochi. Urge the KCA to take the right decision where cricket (Thiruvananthapuram) and Football (Kochi) can happily coexist. pic.twitter.com/rs5eZmhFDP
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 20, 2018

Iain Hume on Instagram: “So having read that there’s a possibility of a ODI Cricket Match planning to be played in JLN Stadium in Kochi, I have to say this.... I…”

There’s a concrete slab just below the surface right in the centre of the pitch! That might cause them some problems too.
— Deano (@deanpropitch) March 20, 2018

When renovation was made to JNI, grass installed was Bermuda, so it could be compliant with ICC rules and could be used for both sports. Now, timing for the ODI does not seem to make it feasible for the conversion back to football without losing at least a month of season
— Javier Ceppi (@JavierCeppi) March 20, 2018

In solidarity with #SaveKochiTurf movement. No sport should be allowed to cannibalize another. Indian football deserves more respect than this. Co-exist and create a better sporting nation. #WestBlockBlues pic.twitter.com/UH96fyA1qO
— West Block Blues (@WestBlockBlues) March 20, 2018

Spoke to CoA Chief VinodRai to denounce Kerala Cricket Assn's bizarre decision to transfer the India-WI ODI from a match-ready Trivandrum stadium to Kochi, whose ground was last used for the U17 Football World Cup. He has promised to review the matter. KCA motives highly suspect
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 19, 2018

Dig up the Kochi turf and then, no play? On Nov 1, SW monsoon (thulavarsham) will still be over Kerala. Dear @BCCI, consult met office; shift both date and venue. #SaveKochiturf
— N.S. Madhavan (@NSMlive) March 20, 2018

Over the course of this week, I have read various reports that the turf at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium will be dug up to help facilitate the ODI cricket match between India and West Indies. For many different reasons, I feel this is wrong. #SaveKochiTurf pic.twitter.com/Y1RCm14Shd
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) March 19, 2018

In an interview I gave to a friend a few years ago, I spoke of how in my childhood, I played football on a ground where there were three or four cricket matches happening at the same time. I would dribble past a defender, and then maybe a batsman before going towards goal.
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) March 19, 2018

I believe that for sport to co-exist, it is important that they do not stop each other from growing. As a nation, we are fighting for success and to become better on so many fronts and a lot of time, effort and money has gone into the football pitch at the JN Stadium.
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) March 19, 2018

This picture was clicked two years ago, at a time when over a hundred workers came in for days on end. I have never met any of them, and could never thank them for what they continue to do, but I must implore the authorities that their work is not thrown away.
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) March 19, 2018

The JN Stadium is one of only six in India that are FIFA approved,a certification that will take immense effort to obtain again. When India has been known for being a 'cricket crazy' nation, is it really necessary to dig up a football pitch to play a cricket match? #SaveKochiTurf
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) March 19, 2018