Javier Mascherano says Barcelona players will support Neymar if he's suspended for El Clasico against Real Madrid but added that the forward will have to learn from his mistakes.
Neymar was sent off as Barca lost 2-0 to Malaga at the weekend for picking up two bookings and he then proceeded to sarcastically applauded the fourth official as he left the pitch at La Rosaleda.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano included the incident in his report which means, as Marca reported on Monday, Neymar could be facing a three-game ban -- one for the red card and two for the clapping gesture.
Barca play Real Sociedad in La Liga next week and then face Real Madrid on April 23 and Mascherano, despite acknowledging Neymar's mistake, feels a one-game ban would be sufficient.
"Other players have done the same and have only had a one-game ban," the Argentina international said in a news conference in Turin ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Juventus.
"As for Neymar, it's very easy to talk from your sofa," Mascherano continued. "It's a different matter when you're on the pitch. Yes, we make mistakes, I have done so more than once, but you can only learn from your errors. But [as players] we don't point fingers at each other. The opposite, in fact. If something happens to one of us, we group together and try to help them through any difficult situation."
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have not yet confirmed the suspension, but an announcement is anticipated on Tuesday.
Luis Enrique labelled some of the yellow cards distributed in Saturday's game to Malaga "special" and "curious" but refused to respond to talk of Neymar being given an extended ban.
"I've got a big game coming up against Juventus," he said. "Let's talk about that for now; focus on that. I don't want to talk about other things."
In February, Luis Suarez was handed a two-game ban after the same referee, Gil Manzano, wrote in his report after a Copa del Rey game that the Barcelona striker delayed his exit down the tunnel after being sent off.
Last month, Alaves' Alexis Ruano was given a three-game suspension after confronting both a referee and fourth official, while in the second division Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita was given a two-game ban after verbally abusing the fourth official.
In a 2012 case similar to that of Neymar, Valencia's Sofiane Feghouli was suspended three games after sarcastically applauding after his second yellow.