Fabinho Capixaba, Pierre and Diego Souza were all shown a third yellow card of the season during Wednesday's 4-2 win away to Sao Caetano in the Paulista championship.
As a result, they have been given automatic suspensions for Sunday's match against modest Guarani and are free to face arch-rivals Corinthians in a derby one week later.
"If a player can get booked, I don't see any problem as long as it's a normal incident," the former Brazil and Real Madrid Luxemburgo told reporters.
"You have to be crafty in football. It's part of the game.
"Taking your time over a throw-in or leaving the pitch when you have been substituted is part of the game. The rules say the referee must give a yellow card.
"What he can't do it give a red card for something which deserves a yellow."
