Certainly the word "thug" has no racial connotations in the UK. Despite the etymology of the word being linked to an Indian cult of robbers and swindlers in the time of empire.
The football thugs of the 70's and 80's were almost entirely white.
Yep. Definitely not a racially associated word in the UK.
When I think of thugs I Personally think of white skin heads or enforcers for organised crime syndicates,, that kind of thing.