Manchester United captain Gary Neville says the best refs should be in charge of the Premiership's biggest fixtures.

Neville believes that inexperienced referees should not be allowed to take charge of the big games until they have "earned" the right to do so and has urged the authorities to appoint a select group to officiate in those matches with the most at stake.

"Referees are having a tough time at the moment, but I must say that their decision-making doesn't seem to be great in the big moments," Neville told The Times. "No one can deny it is very difficult to be a referee, but they are supposed to be professionals.

"The big matches should be refereed by the best referees. Italian referee Pierluigi Collina always used to get the big Champions League matches because he rarely made mistakes.

"They should make it like that in England and use a few elite officials in the big games instead of trying to give all referees experience.

"These big games shouldn't be about giving refs experience. They should have to earn it. The best players play for the big clubs and the best commentators commentate on the big games. That's how it should be with refs."