Fear factor sends Portuguese soccer 'thugs' to top of amateur league

A Portuguese football team branded "thugs" and "butchers" have risen to the top of their amateur league after a string of default wins because opponents are too afraid to play them.

The club, Canelas, from the suburbs of Porto, field three members of the "Super Dragons" ultras, an infamous fan group of Portuguese giants FC Porto, including their team captain who goes by the nickname "Ape".

Other clubs in the fourth-tier amateur league are outraged at the tactics of the club but none have as yet filed an official complaint.