so what about the "witheld payments" from the commercial rights holder the FOTA were banging on about?

Stoner, that's FOM not FIA

would they not tie bernie up in the deal somehow too?

Yeah - do it without telling the little shit - that'd be funny

EDIT: - Actually it looks like Ecclestone has been the one playing referee in Paris - so maybe they have sorted the money

The withheld money I think refers to the fact that the current concord agreement which amongst other things covers how the money is divvied up has lapsed (back in 2007) so the FOM are holding back some of the 'prize money' until a new agreement is signed.