Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has moved to solve the long-running row surrounding the Minardi team's claim to extra Formula One prize money.

The FIA World Council decided to pay Minardi the $12m (�8m) they have been claiming in unpaid fees, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has told the Reuters news agency.

"We took a decision that we would pay Minardi," Ecclestone said, adding that the matter was now closed unless other teams decided to go to arbitration.

"If they want to go to arbitration they can go to arbitration, which they may well do," he said.

Agreement

Minardi had been chasing television revenues, estimated at up to $12 million, originally destined for the now defunct Prost team that went bust in January.

Other teams have argued that the struggling tail-enders, rescued by Australian Paul Stoddart at the start of last season, had no right to the money.

The opposing teams have been led by Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw and McLaren chairman Ron Dennis, according to Minardi owner Paul Stoddart.

But FIA president Max Mosley asked Ecclestone to pay Minardi.

The teams met to thrash out an agreement at the Nurburgring last weekend during the European Grand Prix, where Stoddart said he was confident of being paid at last on Monday.

Stoddart has said that Minardi will probably not be able to afford to complete the season if they are not paid the money.