Barcelona will appeal to CAS over Neymar's suspension

Barcelona is hoping to receive a boost from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol's Comite de Apelacion dismissed an appeal filed by Barcelona on Thursday, pointing to article 117 of its disciplinary code. The appeal was made after Neymar was suspended for three matches, the result of being sent off and applauding the fourth official while entering the tunnel during the Blaugrana's 2-0 defeat at Malaga in La Liga.

But Barcelona isn't giving up. A statement was published by the Blaugrana on Friday - two days before El Clasico - announcing the Catalan club will appeal the decision to the CAS.

"It should be reminded that the referee showed the Brazilian two yellow cards against Malaga," the statement read. "According to the referee's report produced by Gil Manzano, Neymar received the first card for 'not respecting the regulated distance before a free-kick, after being warned in advance.' For the second yellow, he was sanctioned for 'bringing down an opponent when disrupting the ball.' And, in addition, he also wrote that Neymar 'after being sent off and when he was heading to the tunnel, he went towards the fourth official and applauded him.'"

Barcelona plans to take the case to the CAS on Saturday in an effort to delay the suspension, according to ESPN FC's Samuel Marsden. The logic behind the plan is reportedly that the ban is effectively suspended until the quasi-judicial body makes a decision. An urgent meeting would apparently have to be called on Saturday to review the appeal ahead of El Clasico.

Barcelona could allegedly be willing to risk playing Neymar, then be charged for fielding an ineligible lineup at a later date.

Neymar served the first match of his suspension as Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad 3-2 on Saturday. El Clasico, which will take place at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, will mark the second game of the Brazilian phenom's ban unless the CAS gives the product of Santos FC clearance to play.

Neymar's dismissal at Malaga was his first since arriving at the Camp Nou, and Barcelona's first in La Liga since October 2015.