It's a kind of slap that usually one gets a straight red for. Acquafresca was somehow on the ground after a challenge from Gattuso himself. The dog (with reference to Turk's selectioning

) slaps him on the face. Acquaresca reacts and gets a yellow card.
The worst was Maldini's treatment though. He made at least 7 or 8 challenges from behind. He was laughing like a bitch after each and every one as he was warned by a tap on the back. Foggia on the other hand made a harmless challenge against Maldini and was given the yellow card immediately.
And just watch how much pressure Milan directors and Milan players put on the refs. Every single dubious call against them (some of these calls rightfully called) finds itself in Milan's official site. Gazzetta, TV Shows etc were all full with ref's mistakes against Milan (of course, the fact that they are the team with most PK's given in their favour, the team with less YC's and RC's than everyone else, is not mentioned at all).
During the match, if the ref gives out or corner kick against them and it's a 50/50 situation they all yell at the ref, starting from Ancelotti, Tassoti and then the players themselves.
But the refs NEVER give them a yellow for that and they start giving these 50-50 calls to Milan.
It's really expected and all the big teams get these privileges. Real, Barcelona, Milan, Manchester, Lyon, Chelsea.
But why don't we get similar treatment ? Aren't we a big team anymore? I'll try to count how many yellow/red cards we got for objecting to the ref (i remember Zebina and Ranieri getting a red for that)