BOGOTA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Former Mexican national team coach Juan Carlos Osorio, the current boss of Colombian side Atletico Nacional, has been handed a two-month touchline ban after a heated clash with a referee.

In a statement on its official website, league body Dimayor said its disciplinary committee found Osorio guilty of "improper conduct against a match official".

The 58-year-old was also fined 500 US dollars and suspended from the next three rounds of the Colombian Cup.

Referee John Hinestroza accused Osorio of punching him in the right arm and verbally abusing him during Atletico Nacional's 3-0 home victory over Independiente Santa Fe in the first leg of their Colombian Cup round of 16 match on July 24.

Osorio denied the claims, alleging that Hinestroza had used unnecessary force to push him away and that he had made contact with open-handed "swat", not a punch.

Dimayor said the decision could be appealed.

Osorio took charge of Atletico Nacional for a second time in June, having previously led the Medellin-based club from 2012 to 2015.

It is his first managerial role since ending a four-month spell as Paraguay boss by mutual consent in February. The Colombian was head coach of Mexico from 2015 to 2018 and led the Tricolor to the last 16 of last year's World Cup in Russia.