Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Saudi Arabian debut was thrown into even more confusion tonight after his new club’s ground was sealed off amid reports that the match had been cancelled.

Hundreds of staff, including security, chefs and stadium staff were kept outside with the gates locked.

Officials told MailOnline that the stadium was empty with the game due to kick off in two hours.

Groups of chefs in their white uniforms and several hundred security officials dressed in black stood outside the locked gates.

Supporters in the club’s yellow and blue colours stood outside bewildered as to why there had been no official announcement.

The players’ entrance at gate nine was sealed and unguarded.

Both police officers and security officials told MailOnline they had been told the match was off.

Any cancellation is likely to add to the embarrassment of the club, which is splashed out upwards of £400 million to secure Ronaldo’s services for the next two and a half years.

His debut tonight had already been vetoed by FIFA following the football associations ban on him for two matches, which has yet to serve, while he was a Manchester United player.

But the club, which has not revealed whether it was to adhere to the ban, had yet to confirm whether the match would go ahead with or without its superstar with no official announcement.

A senior police officer told MailOnline that the game has been ‘100%’ cancelled and will take place on Friday evening.

Following the request made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino for every nation to do so, Standard UK writes that Cape Verde has become the first nation to dedicate a stadium after Pele.

The African nation's prime minister said that they will rename their national stadium, Estádio da Várzea, in honor of the legendary Brazilian athlete who passed away on December 29 at the age of 82.

Portuguese is a shared language between Brazil and Cape Verde, a collection of islands in the Atlantic Ocean to the west of the main African continent.

Brazilian and Cape Verdean history and culture, according to Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, "go hand in hand, given that they are two sister nations, connected by language and by extremely similar identities."

“Pele was and will always be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking world and in the rest of the world, being an idol that connects several generations,” the Prime Minister added.

”As a tribute and recognition to this figure who makes us all great, I manifest the intention (of the Government) to name our national stadium as ‘Pele Stadium’ in an initiative to which, I believe, several countries around the world will accompany us.”

The official Cape Verde government website said that the executive had already notified FIFA of its intention to change the name of the stadium.

Infantino told reporters in Brazil on Monday: “We’re going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.”

Pele was laid to rest in Brazil on Tuesday after lying in state for 24 hours at the Vila Belmiro Stadium, the home of his former club Santos.

West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has died at the age of 86 following a short illness.

"I am extremely sad to hear this news," said manager David Moyes.

"On behalf of all of the players and my staff at the training ground, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to David Gold's family at this very difficult time.

"Mr Gold was a regular visitor to Rush Green and always a source of great support and encouragement to myself and the players. It was clear that he had a genuine and sincere love for the club and was a true supporter at heart.

"He took a great interest in the people working behind the scenes and was always keen to help in any way he could. He will be greatly missed."

Gold grew up directly opposite the Boleyn Ground - West Ham's former stadium - and played for the club's boys' and youth teams.

"Of all our joint ventures, none gave us more pride and happiness than the day we took ownership of West Ham United, our club, in January 2010," said Sullivan.

"David had a long-standing connection with the Hammers, having grown up opposite the Boleyn Ground in Green Street, and represented the club at junior level.

"He always wanted what was best for West Ham United, and his passing is a great loss for all of us."

Gold was at Birmingham City for 16 years, selling his shares in 2009 before he and Sullivan took over at West Ham in January 2010.

His tenure at the club oversaw its move to the London Stadium, as well as relegation and subsequent promotion back to the Premier League and playing in the Europa League.

Outside of football, Gold was also the chairman of retail chain Ann Summers and previously co-owned an adult magazine company and corporate air service.