Nile Ranger, a former Premier League player, has recounted an incident where he allegedly fought with Andros Townsend during their time representing England at a youth international level. The dispute, according to Ranger, escalated after Townsend allegedly spat in his pasta.

Ranger, who represented England at U19 level, shared the anecdote on the podcast "Undr the Cosh." He described a scenario where he and Townsend were sharing a room while on international duty in Ukraine. Ranger stated that he offered Townsend, who was not playing at the time, advice about staying ready, which he claims led to a verbal confrontation.

"He wasn't playing and getting in the team at the time, but he's a man where he's stretching at night time and keeping himself ready," Ranger said. "I've played but I didn't play the best. And I'm like to Andros, 'Look, just go to sleep man, just relax. You're stretching and doing all of this but your chance will come'. I'm actually genuinely telling him that, I'm being real."

Ranger recounted Townsend's reportedly aggressive response, which he felt was misdirected anger. The following day, during a meal, Ranger alleges that Townsend spat into his pasta from a Lucozade bottle.

"Anyway, we go down for food the next day and, you remember those old-school blue Lucozade bottles with the yellow top, he's drinking from it and he's spitting in my pasta," Ranger claimed. "I'm looking around at players and being like - are you witnessing this as well? This is crazy antics right now."

Following this alleged incident, Ranger claims he and Townsend went upstairs and a fight ensued, with teammates, including Kyle Walker, attempting to separate them. "I can see Andros there, I'm on to Andros, and I've just crashed him," Ranger stated, describing a punching motion. "His head hits the bin and man are trying to stop me, Kyle Walker trying to stop me, but the rage inside is just going mad, going berserk."

After they were split up, Ranger said Townsend later apologized, attributing his behavior to the stress of being away on international duty. "He's like, 'Look, let me stop you, I'm sorry. I think just being out here is getting to me and what not'," Ranger recalled.

Ranger, who was once considered a promising prospect at Newcastle United, has had a career marked by off-field issues. He has spoken openly about struggling with gambling addiction and periods of legal trouble, including time in a young offenders’ institution following an armed robbery conviction when he was a teenager. These issues significantly impacted his professional career, leading to spells with multiple lower-league clubs after his departure from Newcastle in 2013.

After taking a two-year break from football in 2018, Ranger returned to the game, playing for various non-league teams. He most recently left Chatham Town at the end of last season. Ranger has previously suggested that better off-field conduct could have led to a career as prolific as that of Erling Haaland.