World Cup 2010 - Conspiracy claim over Paul's death

"The death of World Cup oracle Paul the Octopus has sparked a rash of conspiracy theories claiming that the octopus was already long dead before his demise was reported on Tuesday.

Paul became a global phenomenon after successfully predicting eight consecutive results during this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Chinese film director Jiang Xiao had been making a film about the cephalopod seer's exploits, but during her research became convinced that the real Paul had died during the tournament.

She told The Guardian that she believes Paul actually died two days before the World Cup final - and was quickly replaced by an impostor.

"I am 60 to 70 per cent sure that Paul died on July 9 and the Germans have been covering up his death and fooling us for a long time"

                                                                     Jiang Xiao

She is making a film about her claims entitled 'Who killed Paul the Octopus?'.

"We have been keeping in touch with the German aquarium ever since the beginning (of production) but it seemed to me that they were afraid," she added. "The movie is about unveiling the inside story behind the octopus miracle, so they felt nervous."

As for pulling off the switch, Jiang insisted that such subterfuge would be simple.

"They all look the same. It is impossible to tell the difference," she said."