Bermuda's national women's and under-16 soccer teams may both be forced to pull out of regional tournaments in Haiti scheduled for next month.

A change of dates for the tournaments, triggered by sporadic incidents of violence around the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation related to Sunday's elections, has wreaked havoc with the plans of both squads.

The under-16s have organised a European tour which clashes with the new dates put forward by the organisers of the Caribbean Football Union Youth Tournament.

The tournament, which also involves Martinique, St. Kitts and hosts Haiti, was put back one month, leaving Bermuda with match dates on August 23, 25 and 27.

Bermuda Football Association have written to the CFU requesting another date change to avoid a clash with the tour.

And if that change cannot be made, the former under-15 team which qualified with huge victories over first the Cayman Islands and then the US Virgin Islands will most likely pull out of the finals rather than abandon the tour.

The women's team, who qualified for the Caribbean Championship semi-finals with an emphatic victory over the Bahamas, were due to fly off to Haiti this week for matches againt the hosts, Jamaica and Martinique.

But their tournament has also been put back, with match dates pencilled in for August 10, 12 and 14.

The shortage of time has left the team unable to find the necessary airline seats and they will withdraw if the BFA are unsuccessful in their request for a change of dates.

BFA general secretary David Sabir said the under-16s had drawn up plans to travel to England, Holland and Belgium for training and friendly matches.

"We have been notified of the rescheduled dates and we have got back in writing to the CFU, letting them know of the conflict we have,'' said Sabir.

"We are awaiting a reply.'' Asked whether the CFU tournament or the European tour would take priority, Sabir said: "It's not a case of priorities, it's a case of commitments.

"The tour had already been organised and it would be impossible for them to pull out of that tour.

"The situation with the girls is that the late change is so close to the previous dates and we have very little time. We will not be able to get the airline seats.

"We have asked the organisers to consider changing the dates. That is the only way the team would be able to play in the tournament.

"We are just keeping optimistic that all the variables involved will allow the teams to play.'' Under-16s coach Kenny Thompson, also the main organiser of the European tour, was desperately hoping the BFA's request for a date change would be successful, so he would not have to decide between the finals and the tour.

"There are talks ongoing at a higher level and we have not yet got to the stage where we have to make a decision -- and I certainly hope we don't have to,'' said Thompson.

"Both the tour and the tournament are very, very important and we are waiting to see the outcome of the talks with the CFU.'' The tour is planned for August 19 to 31.

In Haiti, while Sunday's second and final round of voting was taking place, 15 polling stations were set on fire in one town around 100 miles north of the capital Port-Au-Prince.

Some of those monitoring the elections were beaten up and in some areas burning tyres were thrown onto the streets.